Streamlining the 1937 Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrow

International Avus Race on 30 May 1937. Photo taken before the start, far right: Manfred von Brauchitsch in the Mercedes-Benz W 25 Avus streamlined racing car with twelve-cylinder engine (race number 36). Other racing cars from right to left: Rudolf Hasse (race number 34, Auto Union), Luigi Fagioli (race number 33, Auto Union streamlined racing car) and Hermann Lang (race number 37, Mercedes-Benz streamlined racing car with eight-cylinder M 125 F engine). (Photo index number in the Mercedes-Benz Classic Archives: U17171)

Streamlined: Flowing curves and curved surfaces of silver-coloured sheet metal envelop the W 25 streamlined racing car in the Mercedes-Benz Museum. Almost organically, the front and rear wheel arches curve upwards from the aerodynamically optimised vehicle body. At the sides, the wheels are clad up to under the hubs with ingenious covers that can be folded up for maintenance work. For this one-off vehicle, the Mercedes-Benz engineers consistently explored the possibilities of streamlining and drive technology available at that time.

Trio: Mercedes-Benz entered no fewer than three streamlined racing cars in the formula-free International Avus Race in Berlin on 30 May 1937. They look similar, but have technical differences. In addition to the W 25 streamlined racing car with 5.6-litre twelve-cylinder MD 25 DAB engine on display in the Mercedes-Benz Museum, two vehicles with the 5.7-litre eight-cylinder M 125 F engine from the then current W 125 formula racing car were also developed for the race.

Three times on the podium: The novel vehicles were successful across the board. Rudolf Caracciola won the first preliminary race. Manfred von Brauchitsch won the second preliminary race with the vehicle exhibited in the Mercedes-Benz Museum. And the overall winner of the main race was Hermann Lang. Richard Seaman had no chance against all three, competing in a classic Mercedes-Benz W 125 with free-standing wheels.

Technology: It was also a victory for aerodynamics. Because on the straights, the vehicles reached almost 380 km/h. Even on the newly built, even steeper north curve of the Avus, the speed was still just under 370 km/h. By comparison, the last development stage of the W 25 formula racing car with free-standing wheels and 4.7-litre eight-cylinder engine from 1936 reached around 300 km/h.

Exclusive: Even conventional racing cars were made by hand and in very small series. The streamlined racing cars were even more exclusive. Von Brauchitsch’s vehicle was based on a W 25 record car with a twelve-cylinder engine that the brand with the star successfully used in 1936. An optimal starting point for the “fastest race in the world at the time” on the Avus. This is how Hermann Lang described this competition. The body of the record-breaking car had been significantly modified for the Avus Race.

Flap: Only the heads of the racers in the Mercedes-Benz streamlined racing cars could be seen during the International Avus Race in 1937. This was because, after the racing drivers had taken their seat in the vehicle, a streamlined sheet metal cover hinged at the front was folded down over the cockpit – shoulders and arms disappeared. Protection against the wind was provided by a wind deflector consisting of three small panes mounted on the flap.

Viewpoint: The wind deflector also allowed visibility of the track during the speedy ride. This was an impressive experience, especially on the extremely steep curves. Hermann Lang wrote about this later: “Driving through this Avus-Nordschleife – a unique curve – properly was a problem and required a lot of training. At first, I just couldn’t take my eyes off the line indicating the centre line of this track. Later, I ventured a glance to the side now and then. If I looked to the right, I had the strange impression of driving up a vertical wall; if I looked to the left, I seemed to see, deep below me, a sea of faces filling the interior of the curve.”

Science: The optimised aerodynamics of the streamlined body accounted for a considerable part of the speed of the Mercedes-Benz streamlined racing cars. Here, the engineers were also able to draw on findings from the record-breaking runs of 1936, for which they examined the vehicle in the wind tunnel in Friedrichshafen, among other places. In 1936, the “Allgemeine Automobil-Zeitung” (an automotive newspaper) wrote about the important effect of supposedly insignificant details such as the clad wheels: “That was wasted effort. Because the drag of the unclad wheels swallowed up three quarters of the total power.”

Automotive marvels: The three Mercedes-Benz streamlined racing cars must have seemed particularly futuristic to many fans at the 1937 Avus Race. For in the Grand Prix races of this era, the brand did not yet enter its Silver Arrows in the 750-kilogram formula with such aerodynamically clad bodywork. That would not happen until almost twenty years later in Formula One with the W 196 R. On 4 July 1954, this racing car with streamlined fairing made a furious return of the brand to Grand Prix racing with a double victory in the French Grand Prix in Reims – also known today as the “Miracle of Reims” in reference to the winning of the Football World Cup that same weekend. The W 196 R is in the Mercedes-Benz Museum just a few metres away from the W 25 streamlined racing car.

First success: Nevertheless, aerodynamic innovation had a certain tradition at the 1937 race – especially for Manfred von Brauchitsch. For it was on this track that the racing driver had won the Avus Race five years earlier on 22 May 1932 in a private Mercedes-Benz SSKL with an innovative streamlined body designed by aerodynamics pioneer Reinhard von Koenig-Fachsenfeld. This success finally put the importance of an aerodynamically designed body on the engineers’ agenda – first for racing cars and exclusive vehicles with “motorway courier” bodies, and later for production vehicles as well

Critical Turning Points in American Automotive History

 There are five:

1) 1907-1909 -- the introduction of the Ford Model T, mass production, and the coming of the mass market.

2) 1924 - 1926 The emergence of the mass and class market.

    a) Widespread installment purchases -- buying on time becomes dominant.

    b) The widespread practice of trade-ins and used car sales

    c) The closing of the car -- the automobile becomes more like a home and open cars henceforth are labeled convertibles. A large majority of cars become closed, first pioneered in 1921 by Hudson and the Essex.

    d) While it took a while to be fully adopted, the practice of the late summer/early fall annual model change. Incremental change was supplanted by planned obsolescence.

    e) The development of a national system of roads -- 2 lane, undivided highways.

3) The High Point of the Golden Age of the Automobile (1955-1957)

    a) The 1955 Chevy and a V-8 for the masses

    b) Car Culture Dominance -- Rock and Roll, Film, Literature.

    c) The Interstate Highway Act (1956)

    d) Tail fins, Speed, and California Dreaming

4) Oil Shocks I (1973-74) and II -- especially II, 1979-1981.

    a) The Federal Government now has a major say in the automobile industry. Concerns over safety, emissions, energy consumption.

    b) Foreign competition becomes very significant.

    c) Pickup trucks and SUVs initially avoid CAFE standards and emissions regs.

    d) The automobile is not longer seen by many as a progressive element in American Life; rather a social and environmental problem.

    e) The decline of Rust Belt automotive assembly centers -- Detroit, Buffalo, Cleveland, Dayton, Flint

5) Climate Change, Financial Collapse, and the Revenge of the Electric Car

    a) Concerns over CO2 and Climate going back to the 1990s

    b) Financial collapse

    c) GM and Chrysler Bankruptcy

    d) Elon Musk, Tesla, and the genesis of a new industry

A Second Review of Ehrenberg’s “The Life of the Automobile"

                                                        A young Ehrenberg

 

Back in 2009 I wrote a review of The Life of the Automobile  on a day I was suffering with the flu.I highly recommend it. See https://automobileandamericanlife.blogspot.com/2009/10/brief-review-of-ilya-ehrenburg-life-of.html .I forgot about that, and most recently reread the book while exercising on a bike at the Rec Center and prepared to write a review. 

Written during the first half of 1929, this work is a critique of both capitalism and colonialism. It has very interesting insights of the movers and shakers as they compete for resources like oil and rubber in the months leading up to the Great Crash. Hoover,  Churchill, plantation owners, and oil barons like Walter Teagle are all mentioned in an insightful way. But then too are the little people that weave their way into and out of  the story, including the the cab drivers, stock speculators, assembly line workers and Malaysian rubber workers. Eherenberg’s tale begins with Andre Citroen, his ambitions, his name in lights on the Eiffel Tower, his penchant for gambling, and above all his quest to produce more cars and make more money, only to squander it at the casino. 

There is plenty of suffering across the board in this book. Capitalism and automobiles have redefined time, and time places stress on people squeezed in from all sides. Only the elites are in control, as the rest of us are blown in a wind the has its origins in speculation and the economic growth fetish.

The take away from this book -- remove the ideology -- is that the automobile reorganized the 20th century world. Energy (oil) was now paramount; large amounts of capital were now both commonplace and critical to success; class structure was reorganized; national power took on a more global scope.

At the Mercedes-Benz Museum: Children’s Books!

Stuttgart. Wimmelbooks, children’s picture books teeming with people, animals and objects, invite them to discover, marvel, search – and to tell their own stories about these diverse worlds. The Mercedes-Benz Museum shows the whole range of this special graphic literature for young readers (which also delights adults) with the exhibition “The whole world on one page – International wimmelbooks”. It can be seen during regular CAMPUS opening hours from 29 March to 24 April 2022 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The show was designed as a travelling exhibition by the International Youth Library in Munich.

Works by Ali Mitgutsch and wimmelbooks from around the world

The exhibition, with more than 40 pictures, also shows motifs by the famous wimmelbook author Ali Mitgutsch, among others. The Munich graphic artist, an important pioneer of the genre, passed away in January 2022 at the age of 86. Also on display are pictures from many international wimmelbooks, e.g. from Japan, Poland, Belgium and Norway. Numerous wimmelbooks are shown in their entirety in the exhibition. This makes it possible to easily understand the narrative principle of successive, diverse scenes in a book.

Free guided tours for children’s groups

For groups of children aged 4 and over – especially from day nurseries and primary schools, all-day childcare centres and after-school childcare facilities – the Museum offers a guided tour of the exhibition free of charge. During the tour, the children explore the teeming details of these miniature worlds and develop their own stories from them. This intuitive and creative approach not only helps to encourage curiosity and the joy of discovery in the young visitors, but also promotes language acquisition.

The guided tours for groups will be offered from 29 March to 13 April 2022 – every Tuesday to Thursday from 9.30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 11.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. There are also afternoon tours on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 2.30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Group tours may be booked by phone on +49 (0) 711 17-30 000 or by email to classic@mercedes-benz.com. Further information on the exhibition is available at www.mercedes-benz.com/wimmelbuch and information on the International Youth Library at www.ijb.de.

Mercedes-Benz completes another deal to bolster future battery supply lines

Another joint venture to local source critical components to sustain the EV revolution. The pandemic and Ukraine war has demonstrate the need to maintain multiple supply lines. This is a 21st century form of vertical integration to cope with potential disruptions that can come unexpectedly.

Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis and TotalEnergies/Saft signed a deal to become equal partners in Automotive Cells Company (ACC), completing a transaction announced in September 2021 (Link). The partners have committed to increase ACC’s industrial capacity to at least 120 Gigawatt hours (GWh) by 2030 and to scale up development and production of next-generation high-performance battery cells and modules.

As part of the Mercedes-Benz strategy to go all-electric, ACC will supply the world’s most valuable luxury automotive brand with high-performance battery technologies from mid of the decade.

“Our stake in ACC marks another important step on the way towards an all-electric product portfolio by the end of the decade. To reach this target, we need a total battery production capacity of more than 200 Gigawatt hours by 2030. This is why we are continuously expanding our own R&D and production activities, and teaming up with partners to speed up progress”,  said Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer responsible for Research & Development and Procurement.

“We believe in a local for local sourcing approach and will develop and produce battery cells and modules with ACC in Europe. With each partner contributing their particular strengths, we can create a strong European manufacturer of competitive, state-of-the-art battery cells and modules. With a convincing ecological footprint.”

As an equal shareholder, Mercedes-Benz will contribute its expertise and support the expansion of ACC’s production network based on the brand’s benchmark quality standards. With Saft, an affiliate of TotalEnergies, Mercedes-Benz has a partner with over 100 years of experience in the field of long-life batteries and battery systems for applications critical to safety, back-up power and electric and hybrid drives. Stellantis brings industrialisation expertise to the joint venture through its brand diversity, size and global footprint. Together with its partners, Mercedes-Benz customers can benefit from the joint venture’s unique combination of technological know-how, production experience and scale.e

With the investment, Mercedes-Benz is industrialising advanced and sustainable cell technologies in Europe. Mercedes-Benz is expanding its portfolio of partnerships to safeguard the degree of localisation in the procurement of battery cells and modules as a key technology for the age of electric mobility.

The new Shareholder Agreement is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

Mercedes-Benz 350 SL (R 107) manufactured in 1971 from Mercedes-Benz Classic. Exterior photo from front left. (Photo signature in the Mercedes-Benz Classic archives: D732074)

My R 107 resembles above car, but has different Federalized bumpers an d headlights.I own perhaps the least valuable of all SL models, the 1982 380 SL. It does have the double chain upgrade and now has over 136,000 miles. It runs good and looks good. I get many complements at gas stations and while stopped at intersections. It is the ideal old man’s car -- sporty, looks better than it is, and has little value so I can take it to the grocery story without overly worrying about it. If it is stolen or burns cup, I’ll get another car, perhaps like it. As a California/Arizona car, it stands out here in Ohio, especially among cars from the 1980s and 1990s. Comfortable and with a good stereo system, it is also quite safe -- far safer than a small british sports car from the 1950s, 60s, or 70s. But only a fool would think my car is more than vaguely released to the 300 SL. DNA match is there, but like a fifth generation cousin.

The two letters SL are the world-famous hallmark and distinction of a unique Mercedes-Benz sports car tradition: for 70 years, the abbreviation has stood for “super-light” and thus for sporty motoring – from the 300 SL racing sports car (W 194) from 1952 to the latest SL in the 232 model series from the sports car and performance brand Mercedes-AMG. The forefather W 194 remains reserved for motorsport, but in doing so it conveys an important Mercedes-Benz brand value: as the oldest luxury car manufacturer in the world, the brand has been involved in motorsport for many eras – and has been highly successful. From the 300 SL Coupé (W 198) onwards, sportiness, luxury and lifestyle have been the attributes of every SL.

Each generation in this illustrious line of ancestors writes its own chapter in the uninterrupted success story. The Mercedes-Benz Museum tells this unique history with the special exhibition “Fascination SL – A Dream Car for 70 Years”: www.mercedes-benz.com/sl-special-exhibition. The exhibition can be seen in Collection Room 5 until 9 October 2022 and includes ten SL sports cars from seven decades, from the oldest preserved 300 SL racing sports car (W 194) to the new Mercedes-AMG SL of the 232 model series.

Sportiness in the genes

On 12 March 1952, Mercedes-Benz presented the 300 SL (W 194), a pure motorsport car. With it, the brand won four out of five races in the season: the sports car races in Bern (triple victory) and at the Nürburgring (quadruple victory), the 24 Hours of Le Mans (double victory) and the III Carrera Panamericana in Mexico (double victory). At the Mille Miglia, which was the first race at the time, it finished second and fourth. For the 1953 season, the W 194/11 racing sports car prototype was built. It was not used again due to preparations for entry into Formula One, but it represented an important technical step on the way to the racing cars (W 196 R) and racing sports cars (W 196 S) in 1954 and 1955.

Calls for a production version of the successful racing car quickly became loud. Mercedes-Benz reacted and presented the 300 SL Coupé (W 198), the legendary “Gullwing” sports car, as early as 1954. Only 1,400 units of the coveted sports car, with the characteristic doors hinged on the roof due to the roll cage, were built. Today, these classics achieve prices well beyond one million euros.

In 1954, at the same time as the “Gullwing”, the brand presented the Mercedes-Benz 190 SL, designed as an elegant, open-top sports car. Alongside the 300 SL super sports car, the Roadster, which also looked very sporty on the outside, was a vehicle offering comprehensive comfort even for long journeys at high cruising speeds.

In 1957, the 300 SL Roadster (W 198) followed the “Gullwing” Coupé. Like its predecessor, this car was created on the initiative of Maximilian E. Hoffmann. In technical terms, the Roadster largely corresponds to the Coupé. However, by modifying the side parts of the roll cage, the entry height could now be reduced to such an extent that normal, front-hinged doors could be realised.

In 1963, the 230 SL (W 113) replaced both the 300 SL Roadster and the 190 SL. It impressed with sportiness, comfort and safety and has since been a trailblazer for the SL tradition. The optional hardtop with its high windows and the concave shaped roof supported by narrow pillars was reminiscent of Asian temple buildings, which quickly earned the W 113 the nickname “Pagoda”.

The SL models in the R 107 model series made their debut in the spring of 1971. For the first time in the history of the Mercedes-Benz SL, eight-cylinder engines were used in the 350 SL and 450 SL models. In 1974, the 280 SL followed with a six-cylinder engine, making three engines part of the range for the first time. The model series exuded elegance and solidity. The crash performance of this open-top two-seater car was way ahead of its time. The R 107 was built for 18 years – a record.

Seven decades of the SL – An equally comprehensive history of technology

At the Geneva Motor Show in 1989, Mercedes-Benz presented the next generation, the SL of the R 129 model series. The automatic roll bar, which pops out in just 0.3 seconds even with the hardtop closed, was a hallmark of the industry. With this vehicle, the brand hit a bullseye: production capacity was soon fully booked. Some customers accepted delivery periods of several years. The twelve-cylinder top-of-the-range models, the 600 SL/SL 600 (290 kW/394 hp) and SL 73 AMG with a 7.3-litre V12 engine and 386 kW (525 hp), are legendary.

In 2001, the next SL generation with the internal code R 230 made its debut. Its most striking innovation was the folding Vario roof made of steel: for the first time in the history of the Mercedes-Benz SL, it enabled both an open car and a coupé in one. The design of the R 230 model series combined tradition and the future by means of striking details. The AMG share grew significantly in this SL generation: almost a third of all R 230s had AMG engines. The top of the range was the SL 65 AMG Black Series rated at 493 kW (670 hp).

In January 2012, to mark the SLʼs 60th birthday, the R 231 model series was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. One focus of the new design was on reducing the weight of the sports car via numerous measures. Available on request: MAGIC SKY CONTROL, the glass roof with adjustable tint and transparency.

The new Mercedes-AMG SL (R 232) is the latest reissue of an icon. The sports car and performance brand unveiled it in 2021. With a classic soft top and sporty character, it fits seamlessly into the brilliant history. At the same time, the luxurious Roadster as a 2+2 seater is particularly suitable for everyday use and puts its power down on the road with all-wheel drive for the first time. The comprehensive technology equipment includes highlights such as the AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL suspension with active roll stabilisation, rear-axle steering, the optionally available AMG ceramic high-performance compound brake system or the standard-fit DIGITAL LIGHT with projection function. Mercedes-AMG in Affalterbach has developed the SL completely independently as a consistent Performance Luxury model. The market launch is kicked off with two models featuring AMG V8 biturbo engines.

Time, Efficiency, Digitization, and the Future of the Automobile

DRIVE PILOT builds on the surround sensors of the Driving Assistance Package and comprises additional sensors that Mercedes-Benz considers indispensable for safe conditionally automated driving. These include LiDAR, as well as a camera in the rear window and microphones, especially for detecting blue lights and other signals from emergency vehicles. There is also a wetness sensor in the wheel well. The S-Class with optional DRIVE PILOT also has redundant steering and braking systems and a redundant on-board electrical system. This ensures that it remains manoeuvrable even if one of these systems fails and enables safe handover to the driver.

From a Daimler-Benz Press Release: My comment -- By taking the physical out of driving, engineers are erasing the very motives for driving in the first place. Early automobilists wanted the autonomy and freedom that the car brought to them. They also wanted to feel speed. Driving was an act onto itself. 

With the introduction of the auto radio during the 1930s, the first electronic distraction was introduced, but it had little impact on the course of decision-making, with perhaps the exception of an influence on emotions that could change speed and risks taken. And the radio could be easily turned off. 

Time was also intimately connected to driving cars. The wrist watch became popular at the same time cars did. Automobile clocks were often a major accessory. Saving time was there at the beginnings of automobility. But initially time was about speed and distance. Now time is equated with doing other things. The reality of the environment around the automobile is thus altered to driver and passengers. Reality in the digital age is what the individual makes it.

  

Insights into key innovations that will define software-driven cars

Stuttgart/Los Angeles. Digital and sustainable innovations will be the number-one USP driving desire in the future of luxurious individual mobility. Customers are increasingly viewing luxury through the lens of values and benefits that extend beyond physical experiences. They are seeking priceless commodities such as time and want to show responsibility with their choices. As the leading luxury car brand, Mercedes-Benz is consistently driving the luxury experience to new levels. This includes giving it new meaning for the electric and digital age – achieving more with less. Driven by the innovative spirit firmly anchored in its brand DNA, and by its strategic goals of "Lead in electric" and "Lead in car software", Mercedes-Benz is pioneering the electric and digital transformation of the global auto industry. The most recent proof of this is the Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX. The most efficient Mercedes ever built is a blueprint for the future of efficiency of electric vehicles and also a masterclass in a radically new approach to the UI/UX driven by software and artificial intelligence. With DRIVE PILOT, Mercedes-Benz became the first automotive manufacturer in the world to receive the world's first internationally valid system approval for conditionally automated driving (SAE-Level 3).

“Through its state-of-the-art EV portfolio and architecture, Mercedes-Benz already holds a commanding position in the mobility transformation. Our strategy is underpinned by nurturing key elements of the electric drivetrain and the software in-house. With our VISION EQXX, we are demonstrating that efficiency is a core component of luxury – now and in the future. Efficiency is the new currency, not just in the drivetrain but throughout the entire car. Through efficiency, we achieve more from less – and that includes sustainable luxury that is both digital and physical. With DRIVE PILOT, our Level 3 conditionally automated driving system, our customers gain the most valuable asset – time. In a first step, we are offering this world-leading technology to our customers in Germany, but will be rolling it out in the US as well by the end of this year if the legal and regulatory framework allows,” says Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer responsible for Development and Procurement.

“Software is changing the world. At Mercedes-Benz, we are unleashing the potential of software to create true added value for our customers. That means focusing on those innovations that offer them true digital luxury through the gift of time. The success factor is the integration of software innovations with intelligently designed electronic hardware, underpinned by our new operating system, MB.OS. Developed increasingly in-house, this high-performance, long-lasting, energy-efficient architecture will facilitate a step change in the customer experience and development processes,” says Magnus Östberg, Chief Software Officer, Mercedes‑Benz AG.

VISION EQXX – the future of efficiency

The road trip to electric mobility is well underway. Mercedes-Benz has already garnered many life-changing experiences and passed numerous milestones along the way. The VISION EQXX research prototype is a vehicle designed specifically for this transformative journey. Not only does it demonstrate the potential of electric mobility for the digital and sustainable age, it also reinterprets the very essence of the road trip itself. It delivers the freedom of the open road and satisfies the urge to explore in a way that is in tune with nature.

With more than 620 miles[1] (1,000 km) of real-world electric range on a single charge and energy consumption of less than 10 kWh/100 km, the VISION EQXX is a blueprint for the future of efficiency. Beyond the exceptional achievements of its highly advanced drivetrain, world-beating drag coefficient of 0.17 and lightweight bionic design, the VISION EQXX is also a masterclass in a radically new software-driven approach to the UI/UX. A game engine elevates the UI graphics to a whole new level of digital luxury. The user interface shows how real-time graphics opens up entirely new digital possibilities, reacting immediately to the driver’s needs and bringing the real world into the vehicle. This human machine merge creates a true partnership between car and driver. This increasingly seamless relationship is further facilitated with intuitive interaction via the highly efficient yet visually striking one-piece display. Meanwhile, through machine learning, a more characterful, emotional voice for “Hey Mercedes” places the conversation between driver and car on a whole new and more natural level.

Sustainable materials in the VISION EQXX – the transfer to series production

The innovations emerging from the technology programme that produced the VISION EQXX serve as a blueprint for digital and sustainable luxury in future Mercedes-Benz products. Just a few months after the world premiere of the VISION EQXX, Mercedes-Benz is transferring the first sustainable materials from the research vehicle into series production. In pilot programmes, both the EQS and EQE will be equipped with cable ducting made from UBQTM, a bioplastic made from mixed household waste that is usually difficult to recycle and often ends up in landfill.

The VISION EQXX offers a roadmap for tangible luxury through sustainable materials. Others include animal-free leather alternatives derived from cactus and the root-like structure of mushrooms. The VISION EQXX also offers tangible luxury through sustainability that is not part of the customer interface, with recycled and low-CO2 materials in structural components as well as a bionic-engineering approach that minimises weight and conserves resources.

At the end of April, Mercedes-Benz will prove the real-world capabilities of this visionary vehicle with a long-distance drive on open roads.

MB.OS – a framework for creating time

As part of Mercedes-Benz’s stated aim to “Lead in car software”, the company is accelerating development of its own operating system. The Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS) will offer a high-performance, long-lasting and energy-efficient architecture that brings a raft of customer benefits, including the chance to regain time that would otherwise be spent in less productive or relaxing ways – yet another form of digital luxury. The system uses artificial intelligence to learn more and more about its users, adjusting to their habits and preferences. Through individualised offerings, it not only heightens the enjoyment of the user experience but also makes it easier and more intuitive. The system reduces complexity through standardisation of electronic and electric hardware and software across all domains. For these purposes, Mercedes-Benz splits the car into four domains: infotainment; automated driving; body and comfort; driving and charging. The software consists of a user interface, applications, middleware and a basic operating system. In this context, the hardware is everything with a cable, electric/electronic hardware, chips and sensors.

Complexity reduction continues farther down with vertical hardware and software integration. By combining software and hardware in-house and defining exactly how the different levels in the domains, the cloud and the Internet Of Things (IOT) work together, Mercedes-Benz can achieve the best possible result for the customer. This includes faster feature deployment and data analysis to gain deeper insights into how the customer uses the UI, which will feed directly into the development process. In accordance with strict data protection and transparency, this is predicated upon prior approval from the customer. Furthermore, the customer experience will continuously develop through new and exciting functions, services and third-party apps delivered over the air (OTA).

Owning the user interface and reducing complexity will also benefit Mercedes-Benz as a company. By way of example, the current S-Class has more than 80 ECUs. Although this multi-level system of individual components works extremely well, it would nevertheless be more efficient to use far fewer units. The only way to achieve this effectively is to control more of this ourselves. Mercedes-Benz will roll out MB.OS across all product lines and re-use the platform through generations in order to leverage scale effects.

Mercedes-Benz – the front runner in automated driving and safety technologies

Since the invention of the automobile in 1886, Mercedes-Benz has repeatedly set standards in vehicle safety with new innovative technologies. Safety is a core element of the Mercedes-Benz brand.  The company has been offering advanced driver assistance systems (SAE Level 2) in its vehicles for years. They can make life considerably easier in many everyday situations, providing support in areas such as speed and distance control, steering and lane changes. In December 2021, Mercedes-Benz was the first automotive manufacturer worldwide to secure internationally valid system approval for conditionally automated driving (SAE Level 3). What’s more, when it comes to parking, Mercedes is going one step further with pre-installation of INTELLIGENT PARK PILOT, which will enable highly automated parking (Automated Valet Parking; SAE Level 4).

SAE Level 2 systems support the driver and increase safety

With "Intelligent Drive", the automaker bundles a wide range of driver assistance systems for partially automated driving (SAE-Level 2). The “DISTRONIC” Active Distance Assist can automatically maintain the preselected distance to vehicles ahead on all road types. Active Steering Assist provides lane-following support in the speed range up to 130 mph (210 km/h), while Active Lane Keeping Assist uses a camera to detect lane markings and lane edges in the speed range from 37 to 155 mph (60 to 250 km/h) and helps to avoid unintentional lane departure. Active Lane Change Assist provides cooperative support when changing to the adjacent lane. In conjunction with DIGITAL LIGHT, intuitive lighting is also provided at night. Active Emergency Stop Assist brakes the vehicle in its own lane to a standstill if it detects that the driver is permanently disengaged from the road while driving. As part of the standard Active Lane Keeping Assist system, this works even if “DISTRONIC” Active Distance Assist with Steering Assist is not switched on. Active Brake Assist uses the sensors installed in the vehicle to register whether there is a risk of collision with vehicles ahead, crossing or oncoming. In the event of an impending collision, the system can warn the driver visually and acoustically. If the driver's braking is too weak, it is also possible to support him or her by increasing the braking force in line with the situation, as well as initiating autonomous emergency braking if there is no reaction from the driver. With these and many other intelligent systems, Mercedes-Benz is not only setting standards for safety technologies in automotive engineering, but is also taking an important step further on the road to autonomous driving.

SAE Level 3 DRIVE PILOT – taking automated driving to the next Level with the gift of time

In December 2021, Mercedes-Benz became the first automotive company in the world to meet the demanding legal requirements of the international UN-R157 for a Level 3 system[2] enabling conditionally automated driving. Mercedes-Benz is initially offering DRIVE PILOT in Germany, where 13,191 kilometres of motorway are approved for conditionally automated driving. Mercedes-Benz is also working intensively to obtain approval from the authorities for the two U.S. states of California and Nevada by the end of the year assuming the legal and regulatory framework allows use of the system. It initiates a radical paradigm shift that permits the vehicle to take over the dynamic driving task under certain conditions. This ultimate luxury experience enables customers to win back precious time when in the car through relaxation or productivity. For instance, they can communicate with work colleagues via in-car office tools, write messages and emails via the head unit, browse the internet or just sit back, relax and watch a movie.

DRIVE PILOT builds on the surround sensors of the Driving Assistance Package and comprises additional sensors that Mercedes-Benz considers indispensable for safe conditionally automated driving. These include LiDAR, as well as a camera in the rear window and microphones, especially for detecting blue lights and other signals from emergency vehicles. There is also a wetness sensor in the wheel well. The S-Class with optional DRIVE PILOT also has redundant steering and braking systems and a redundant on-board electrical system. This ensures that it remains manoeuvrable even if one of these systems fails and enables safe handover to the driver.

The top priority for Mercedes-Benz when introducing such a system is safety, which includes high demands on operational reliability. The exact location of the S-Class is determined using a highly accurate positioning system. This is much more powerful than conventional GPS. In addition, data obtained from satellite navigation are matched with sensor data and data from an HD map. The type of data collected by LiDAR, camera, radar and ultrasonic sensors can include information on road geometry, route characteristics, landmarks or traffic signs.

As well as the sensor data, the DRIVE PILOT receives information on road geometry, route profile, traffic signs and unusual traffic events (e.g. accidents or roadworks) from a digital HD map, which provides a three-dimensional street and environment image. The map data are stored in backend data centres and updated constantly. Each vehicle also stores an image of this map information on board, constantly comparing it with the backend data and updating the local data set if necessary. The HD map thus offers stable positioning through a representation of the surroundings independent of factors such as shadows or a dirty sensor. This high-precision map differs from maps for navigation devices through its greater accuracy down to centimetres rather than metres and its detailed intersection and track model among other things.

A powerful central control unit provides the necessary sophisticated software functions for conditionally automated driving. Within the framework of modern security architecture, important algorithms are calculated redundantly.

SAE Level 4 in car parks: INTELLIGENT PARK PILOT[3] can offer Automated Valet Parking in suitably equipped car parks

In Germany, some variants of the S-Class are the first series-production vehicles to offer pre-installation of the company’s INTELLIGENT PARK PILOT as optional equipment, with the EQS and EQE to follow later. INTELLIGENT PARK PILOT is designed to enable Automated Valet Parking in car parks equipped with the corresponding infrastructure from Bosch. The system then makes it possible to drive to and return from a reserved parking space – automatically, with nobody in the vehicle. Mercedes-Benz RDNA, in collaboration with Bosch, recently demonstrated Automated Valet Parking at an event in downtown Los Angeles using an EQS 580. It showed the effectiveness, convenience and practicality of this highly sophisticated, industry-leading new technology. Mercedes-Benz is evaluating whether pre-installation will be offered in the U.S. in the future through ongoing monitoring of the market.

The vision is that the driver parks the vehicle in a designated drop-off area at the multi-storey car park and starts the parking procedure via a smartphone app. If the app confirms that control of the vehicle has been taken over by the Automated Valet Parking infrastructure, the driver can leave the car park. The vehicle is then started automatically and drives to its reserved parking space guided by the sensors in the car park. It stops in front of any obstacles such as pedestrians or other vehicles. Upon their return, the driver can hail the vehicle via a simple smartphone command. It then drives to a designated pick-up area.

EQE – the new business avant-garde for the electric era

The new EQE is the second vehicle based on the EVA2 premium-class electric architecture. Engineered from scratch for electric vehicles, it enables what Mercedes-Benz calls “purpose design” and delivers significant benefits in aerodynamics and efficiency. The sporty EQE brings the concept of the business saloon into the future. It has all the essential features of the EQS luxury liner in a more compact package. These include the MBUX Hyperscreen, which is the absolute highlight of the interior. This 56-inch curved screen sweeps across almost the entire width of the cabin, incorporating the instrument cluster, infotainment and passenger display in a seamless design. The section of the MBUX Hyperscreen dedicated to the front-seat passenger is a 12.3‑inch OLED display and control surface. It enables them to watch content such as video streaming or TV while the vehicle is in motion, making journeys more enjoyable and entertaining. The system uses an intelligent, camera-based blocking logic that is able to detect if the driver is looking at the passenger display. If so, the system automatically dims dynamic content. Mercedes-Benz anticipates introducing this feature this year for Mercedes-EQ vehicles sold in the U.S.

Further highlights of the EQE include the MBUX Interior Assistant, the MBUX head-up display, ENERGIZING AIR CONTROL with HEPA filter, DIGITAL LIGHT and rear-axle steering. A raft of completely new vehicle functions can be activated OTA, such as the projection functions of DIGITAL LIGHT or an additional sound experience, which further enhances the avant-garde interior ambience with rich, fulsome soundscapes.

The battery in the EQE (WLTP: combined electrical consumption: 18.7–15.9 kWh/100 km, combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/100 km)[4] has a usable energy content of approx. 90 kWh for a range of up to 660 km (WLTP) – ample for comfortable long-distance travel. Plus, for even longer journeys, a 15-minute charge at a rapid charging station delivers up to a further 250 km (WLTP).

Sustainable Materials in Mercedes-Benz Vehicles

Stuttgart. On the road to a fully electric, emission-free future, Mercedes-Benz is pursuing a holistic approach more consistently than ever before. With Ambition 2039, the company’s goal is to have a CO2-neutral fleet of new passenger cars and vans across the entire value chain and life cycle by 2039 - 11 years earlier than EU legislation requires. Special attention is paid to the careful use of resources. The company is working intensively on closing material cycles, significantly increasing the proportion of recycled materials and researching new materials that are in harmony with nature.

"Sustainability is the foundation of all Mercedes-Benz research and development activities. Our goal is to be the technology leader in environmental engineering by achieving more with less. To this end, we are accelerating our innovation speed and bringing new, sustainable technologies into series production as quickly as possible - for example from the VISION EQXX. After only a few months, we are integrating the first sustainable material from our technology programme into ongoing series production. As pilot series, the EQS and EQE will be equipped with cable ducts made from UBQ™, a plastic substitute material derived from household waste," says Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer responsible for Development and Procurement. "Our vision is to transform our entire value chain into as closed a loop as possible. Our series-production vehicles already contain a large number of recycled materials. Within the next ten years, we will increase the share of secondary raw materials in our passenger car fleet to an average of 40 percent."

The sustainable UBQ™ material is obtained from the conversion of mixed household waste, which has so far been difficult to recycle and is therefore often thermally processed or ends up in landfill. Feedstock for the material includes food residues, mixed plastics, cardboard and baby nappies. Further applications such as underbody panels, wheel arch linings and engine compartment covers are currently being tested.

Design for Environment

At Mercedes-Benz, sustainability begins in the early stages of product development. The company takes a holistic approach to both CO₂ emissions and resource consumption. When developing the vehicles, the composition of all materials to be used is reconsidered and possibilities for more sustainable alternatives are examined. This applies both to surface materials and to materials that are not visible to the customer. Examples in the vehicle interiorinclude sustainably processed leather, the use of materials with a high recycled content and innovative materials of the future. In the body and bodyshell, Mercedes-Benz relies on CO2-reduced steel, among other things. The vehicles are designed to be as resource-efficient and environmentally friendly as possible throughout their entire life cycle. Mercedes-Benz calls this "Design for Environment". The company relies on innovative technologies that meet the demands of luxury and sustainability.

1. SUSTAINABLE LUXURY - LEATHER AND LEATHER ALTERNATIVES

The vehicle interior is an important part of the brand experience for customers. The highest visual and haptic quality is a top priority, along with comfort, functionality and durability. Since the early days of the car, leather has been synonymous with high-quality interior features that many customers desire. Here, too, Mercedes‑Benz takes a holistic approach to making this luxury sustainable.

Sustainably processed leather

Customers who wish for a genuine leather interior therefore do not have to do without sustainability: From next year, Mercedes-Benz will successively offer only sustainably produced and processed leather in all model series. The consideration ranges from livestock breeding to the tanning process. Mercedes-Benz already requires compliance with various animal welfare criteria in its specifications. Among other things, the company requires its suppliers to comply with the "5 Freedoms Of Animal Welfare" of the Animal Welfare Committee in livestock breeding. In addition, an important awarding requirement for suppliers is that the leather supply chain must be free from any form of illegal deforestation and that grazing areas do not contribute to the endangerment or loss of natural forests. In this context, partners must disclose their entire supply chain from the farm region to the final product.

For a more environmentally friendly tanning process, in future only vegetable or alternative sustainable tanning agents that are completely free of chromiummay be used - for example dried coffee bean husks, chestnuts or extracts from other renewable raw materials. Furthermore, the leather for Mercedes-Benz products may only be processed in tanneries that are certified according to the Gold Standard of the 'Leather Working Group'. This includes important environmental aspects such as reducing the use of water, energy and chemicals in the tanning process. In addition, Mercedes-Benz works together with suppliers to continuously improve the sustainability of leather products. For this purpose, the partners are required, for example, to present a life cycle assessment of the entire value chain from the farm to the finished leather. In this way, targeted measures can be taken to reduce the ecological footprint of the leather.

Sustainable leather alternatives

At the same time, Mercedes-Benz is conducting intensive research into animal-free alternatives to genuine leather. They should not only be resource-friendly, but also offer the highest quality in all parameters. Promising alternatives to genuine leather have already been presented in the Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX, for example made from renewable raw materials such as powdered cactus fibres. Through the power of biotechnology, fungal mycelia are growing into innovative leather alternatives in the lab, pointing to the future of sustainable, luxurious interior equipment. In the development and selection of these materials, the highest possible recycled content or the use of renewable raw materials instead of petroleum-based raw materials are the top priorities.

Mercedes-Benz offers vehicles in many segments worldwide that either have leather-free interior ex works or as part of an individual customer request. The various trim options include a high-quality leather replica as well as a microfibre fleece fabric that has a suede look and feel. It is used in the vehicle interior, for example as seat cover, roof lining and pillar trim and contains a high proportion of recycled materials, which will be continuously increased in the future.

2. CONSERVING RESOURCES THROUGH INNOVATIVE RECYCLING MATERIALS - EXAMPLE FABRIC

Recycled materials are already in series production in many vehicles today. In the interior, for example, Mercedes-Benz offers various high-quality upholstery fabrics made from up to 100 percent recycled PET bottles in addition to leather replica and microfibre. The floor coverings in the EQS use a nylon yarn that comes from recycled carpets and recycled fishing nets. One ton of this yarn saves over 6.5 tons of CO2 compared to new material. In addition, Mercedes-Benz also relies on the use of natural fibres to replace conventional plastics with renewable raw materials.

3. SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS OF THE FUTURE

In Group Research, the company is examining the series launch of promising materials that meet Mercedes-Benz's high standards of sustainability and quality. This includes a high-performance plastic with a painted surface obtained through innovative chemical recycling. In chemical recycling, used tyres and otherwise difficult-to-recycle plastic waste in particular are broken down into their chemical components in such a way that absolutely new materials can be produced from them. The combination of raw materials from chemical recycling with the renewable raw material biomethane reduces the use of fossil resources. The material could soon be used in door handles.

Another promising material that could be used in rear seat cushions is a partially CO2 based foam. In the polyol, the main component of this automotive-grade polyurethane foam, CO2 which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere is chemically bound. The carbon dioxide can make up to 20 percent by weight of the polyol.

In addition, Mercedes-Benz is intensively researching the readiness for series production of further innovative materials that were presented in the VISION EQXX. These include a silk-like, biotechnologically produced textile that is completely free of animal products as well as carpets made of bamboo fibres. These materials are not only particularly sustainable, but also an exquisite visual and tactile experience.

4. CO2 REDUCTION IN BODY-IN-WHITE AND BODY

A holistic sustainability assessment of all materials includes not only the vehicle interior but also the body and shell. Special attention is paid to materials that are particularly CO2-intensive in production, such as steel and aluminium.

Already in series production: CO2-reduced steel

As part of Ambition 2039, Mercedes-Benz is pursuing the goal of decarbonising the steel supply chain, deliberately focusing on the avoidance and reduction of CO2 emissions rather than compensation. In this way, the company is consistently reducing CO2 emissions in the steel supply chain as a first step: The VISION EQXX uses CO2-reduced flat steel from Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH, which is produced 100% from scrap in the electric arc furnace. The more than 60% CO2-reduced low-alloyed grades are being integrated simultaneously in initial applications in the current A-Class, the current E-Class, the new C-Class and the EQE.

Mercedes-Benz is thus the first vehicle manufacturer to have introduced this resource-conserving, CO2-reduced sheet metal into series production. The cooperation between Mercedes-Benz AG and Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH was awarded the MATERIALICA Design + Technology Gold Award 2021 in the category "CO2 Efficiency".

In addition, Mercedes-Benz sources steel from the US supplier Big River Steel, which reduces CO2 emissions in steel production by more than 70% through the use of recycled steel scrap and renewable energies. By contrast, steel produced using a classical blast furnace emits an average of more than two tons of CO2per ton.

From 2025: CO2-free steel

In the next step, from 2025 Mercedes-Benz will use steel that is almost completely CO2-free in various vehicle models, thanks to manufacturing with hydrogen instead of coking coal. To this end, the company has become the first car manufacturer to take an equity stake in the Swedish start-up H2 Green Steel (H2GS). As part of a partnership with Swedish steelmaker SSAB, the first prototype parts for body-in-white applications made from fossil-free steel are already being planned for this year. The partner will produce a steel with iron made with hydrogen from its pilot plant in Luleå, which can be used in safety relevant areas of the car body.

Through the partnerships, Mercedes-Benz promotes the transformation of the steel industry and accelerates the development and production of CO2-free steel in Europe.

Recycled aluminium

The decarbonisation of the supply chain is also being consistently worked on in the use of aluminium. With the market launch of the Mercedes-AMG SL, another world premiere is in the starting blocks. In the body‑in‑white of the Mercedes-AMG SL, structural castings made of die-cast alloys made from up to 100 % recycled aluminium scrap are used for the first time. In aluminium production, this saves more than 90% of CO2 emissions.