Mercedes-Benz at the Paris Motor Show: World and European premieres in five model series

• S-Class: The number one in the luxury class with the latest technology
• CL-Class: Model year 2003 more elegant and innovative
• SL-Class: New six-cylinder SL 350 sports car
• E-Class: E 200 KOMPRESSOR and E 320 CDI enter the range
• C-Class: V6 models now also available with 4MATIC
• Mercedes-AMG: World premiere for four new high-performance cars

Note: This press information contains European specifications.

PARIS, September 26, 2002 -- At this year's "Mondial de l’automobile" (28.9 to 13.10. 2002) Mercedes-Benz is reasserting its position as the most dynamic and successful premium automobile brand with world and European premieres in five model series, four new AMG high-performance cars and a number of trailblazing innovations.

The centrepiece of the Mercedes display in the French capital is the model year 2003 S-Class, whose innovative occupant protection system PRE-SAFE sets trends for the entire field of car development. The exclusive CL-Class Coupé is also being shown to the public for the first time in Paris with even more cutting-edge technology and an updated design. From autumn 2002 Mercedes-Benz is adding the six-cylinder SL 350 sports car to the successful SL-Class, and the E-Class is joined by the new models E 200 KOMPRESSOR and E 320 CDI. The S and C-Class 4MATIC models are also celebrating their premiere at the Paris Motor Show.

Four further new products by Mercedes-AMG are joining the range: the E 55 AMG with a 350 kW/476 hp supercharged V8 engine, the C 30 CDI as the first AMG diesel model and the new high-performance models S 55 AMG and CL 55 AMG.

S-Class: PRE-SAFE, 4MATIC, V12 biturbo and other high-tech innovations

In model year 2003 the worldwide number one in the luxury saloon segment continues to occupy the fast lane both in terms of technology and styling. At the Paris Motor Show Mercedes-Benz is presenting an S-Class which has been enhanced in many respects and is accordingly even more attractive and innovative. The top-of-the-range model series by the Stuttgart brand will be shown to the public for the first time in autumn 2002.

Heading the list of high-tech innovations is the PRE-SAFE pre-crash occupant protection system, with which Mercedes-Benz is inaugurating a new era in automotive safety. PRE-SAFE can detect an impending collision in advance and puts the occupants and the vehicle on standby before an impact occurs. PRE-SAFE occupant protection measures include split-second advance tensioning of the seat belts, aimed at ensuring the best possible occupant seating position prior to a collision so that the airbags can do their job as effectively as possible. At the same time PRE-SAFE automatically adjusts the front passenger seat and the power-adjustable individual seats in the rear to the most favourable position, and also automatically closes the sunroof if the vehicle is skidding.

From autumn 2002 the S-Class will traction and stability further notch with the electronically controlled 4MATIC permanent four-wheel drive system, which will be optionally available for the six and eight-cylinder petrol-engined models. On snow or ice, on slippery cobblestones, in the wet or in other adverse road conditions, 4MATIC provides even greater traction without detracting from typical Mercedes ride comfort. Combined with ESP®, it allows the driver to cope safely and confidently in critical situations.

Heading the new engine line-up is a newly developed twelve-cylinder twin-turbo unit with air/water intercooler and other high-tech innovations. Made of advanced lightweight materials, this 5.5-litre V12 power plant develops a maximum output of 368 kW/ 500 hp, making it one of the most powerful engines in its class. It delivers peak torque of 800 Newton metres upwards of just 1800 rpm and propels the top-of-the-line S 600 from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds.

A new entry into the range is the S 350, whose 180 kW/245 hp V6 engine generates a torque of 350 Newton metres, eleven percent more than the preceding six-cylinder unit. With a four percent reduction in fuel consumption (7.7 litres per 100 kilometres) the modern six-cylinder diesel engine of the S 320 CDI also has significantly more torque. The output of the 3.2-litre engine has been increased to 150 kW/204 hp, while maximum torque has scaled a new peak: 500 Newton metres at 1800 rpm.

Visually, subtle modifications are the general theme of the model-year 2003 S-Class. The headlamps, bumpers, radiator grille and rear lights have all been redesigned. In the interior over 40 features have been redesigned, or further enhanced using new materials. As a further attraction, Mercedes-Benz now also offers an exclusive "designo couture" interior trim package, which includes finest-quality nappa and nubuk leather upholstery, anthracite-coloured poplar or maple wood veneer and a roof lining of fine Alcantara.

CL-Class: New heights in body design, interior and technology

The Mercedes-Benz CL-Class is also entering model-year 2003 with a discreetly updated body design, an enhanced interior and the latest high-tech features. The most obvious external features of this Mercedes Coupé are the redesigned twin headlamps in a modern clear-lens look and the restyled front bumper, which accentuates the muscular appearance of the Coupé even more strongly. At the rear of the CL-Class the brilliance and the redesigned lenses of the rear lights accen-tuate the elegant character of the Coupé.

Like the top model in the S-Class, Mercedes-Benz is also equipping the CL 600 with the newly developed V12 biturbo engine, which exceeds the output of the previous Mercedes twelve-cylinder by approx. 36 percent and its torque by no less than 51 percent.

Mercedes-Benz is supplementing the innovative safety technology of the CL-Class with so-called up-front sensors at the front end which make it possible to assess the impact severity at an early stage during a crash and activate the front passenger airbag in two stages depending on the situation. Thanks to the up-front sensors the belt tensioners are activated at an even earlier stage to ensure that the occupants are optimally restrained by the seat belts during a crash. Another new feature is automatic weight classification of the front passenger with the help of a special membrane in the seat cushion. This means that the airbag is not only activated in two stages according to accident severity, but also according to the weight of the front passenger.

SL-Class: New six-cylinder sports car with a 245 hp power unit

Mercedes-Benz is also presenting the new SL 350 to the public for the first time at the Paris Motor Show. Equipped with a further development of the V6 engine with an output of 180 kW/245 hp, this two-seater has excellent credentials for delivering exemplary sports car dynamism: the SL 350 accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds and has an (electronically limited) maximum speed of 250 km/h.

As standard equipment Mercedes-Benz has combined this V6 power unit with the automated six-speed transmission SEQUENTRONIC, which is operated from the steering wheel in typical racing car fashion in the SL and therefore permits particularly rapid gearchanges at the touch of a button. Other standard appointments in this six-cylinder SL-Class model include high-tech innovations such as the vario-roof, Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC™), an automatic rollover bar, electrically adjustable integral seats, adaptive driver and passenger airbags and large head-thorax sidebags.

AMG: New models with a supercharged V8 and a CDI direct injection engine

Mercedes-AMG is putting on a sparkling display of new products with no less than four world premieres at the Paris Motor Show. As the most powerful E-Class ever the E 55 AMG sets new standards among sports saloons in its class with an out-put of 350 kW/476 hp and 700 Newton metres of torque. The C 30 CDI AMG is the first diesel to achieve performance figures worthy of a sports car and is unrivalled in its class. Its completely newly developed direct-injection turbodiesel with common-rail technology develops a maximum output of 170 kW/231 hp and a maximum torque of 540 Newton metres.

Dynamic sports car performance and exclusive appointments are also the hallmark of the S 55 AMG and CL 55 AMG, two top models equipped with a 368 kW/500 hp supercharged V8 engine. The new AMG models in the E, S and CL-Class will appear in the showrooms of Mercedes-Benz dealerships and company-owned sales outlets in October 2002, followed by the C 30 CDI AMG in February 2003.

E-Class: Two new model variants in the range

The successful E-Class model series is being extended with two new variants, the E 200 KOMPRESSOR with the newly developed, supercharged four-cylinder engine (120 kW/163 hp) and the six-cylinder diesel E 320 CDI, which has a higher output (150 kW/204 hp) and more torque (500 Newton metres) yet enables fuel economy to be improved by almost a litre per 100 kilometres.

The four-cylinder engine of the E 200 KOMPRESSOR is one of the latest-generation power units by Mercedes-Benz, which feature the unique TWINPULSE system. By combining different technologies such as supercharging, intercooling, four-valve technology, variable camshaft adjustment, twin balancer shafts and adaptive drive dynamics this guarantees maximum driving enjoyment and smoothness together with a very low fuel consumption.

The six-cylinder diesel engine of the E 320 CDI features second-generation common-rail technology. This marks further significant progress in reducing fuel consumption as well as exhaust and noise emissions.

C-Class: Six-cylinder models optionally available with 4MATIC

From autumn 2002 the permanent four-wheel drive system 4MATIC will also become optionally available for the six-cylinder C-Class models for the first time. In addition Mercedes-Benz is making two further high-tech innovations from its top models available in the C-Class: powerful bi-xenon headlamps and the proximity cruise control system DISTRONIC.

New-Cars.com Home - News Archives - Car Reviews - New Car Price Quote - Privacy Policy - Contact Us

Copyright © 2002 New-Cars.com