The B-Class facelift, the AMG-GT, S 500 Plug-In Hybrid, the AMG C 63 and the new generation smart fortwo/forfour were the Mercedes world premieres in Paris.
Mercedes launched in Paris, the Mercedes-AMG C 63, which is the first regular Mercedes to get the new 4 litre V8 bi-turbo engine after the AMG-GT, which is the second exclusive AMG car after the SLS.
“With the new Mercedes-AMG C 63, our performance experts demonstrate once again that characteristics like family friendly and race track ready need not be contradictory” says Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Daimler CEO. And Prof. Dr. Thomas Weber continues: “The potential of this engine is best described by three figures: four litres displacement, two power levels and a fuel consumption of 8.2 l/100 km”. The Mercedes-AMG C 63 is the world’s most fuel efficient V8 model, 30% more economical than the old generation. In the Mercedes-AMG C 63, the engine develops 476 HP or 510 HP.
Read more about Mercedes-AMG C 63
Interesting to say that the new model is named Mercedes-AMG C 63 and not Mercedes C 63 AMG. Mercedes wants to put Mercedes and AMG closer and to focus more on the sport brand Mercedes-AMG.
Another world premiere was the Mercedes AMG-GT, available with the new 4 litre V8 bi-turbo in two power levels with 462 and 510 HP.
Prof. dr Weber states: “We want to make Mercedes-AMG the most desirable sports car brand in the world”. Mercedes sold 23,000 AMG models in the first 6 months of 2014 and targets more than 40,000 sales for the whole year.
Read more about Mercedes AMG-GT
Since the launch of the Mercedes B-Class at the end of 2011, Mercedes sold 835,000 models based on the new MFA platform – A, B, CLA and GLA. From all these, more than 350,000 were B-Class models.
Dieter Zetsche throws arrows to the rivals in Bavaria: ”In the light of this success, we understand very well why other premium manufacturers are now also becoming active in the B-Class segment”. And the car to which Zetsche hints without saying the brand is for sure the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer.
Read more about Mercedes B-Class facelift
The B-Class also has two versions with alternative propulsion: one electric and one with natural gas (B 200 Natural gas Drive). The electric version which is also sold in the US (in fact, it is the only B-Class version sold in the US), uses a 132 kw electric engine. It takes only 7.9 seconds to go from 0 to 100 km/h and has a range of 200 km, which can increase to 230 km with Range Plus mode.
And with a luggage comprtment of 501 to 1456 litres, it offers more space than the BMW i3 or any other competitor and is a fully fledged five seater.
The new Mercedes S 500 Plug-In Hybrid is the first luxury saloon with a fuel consumption less than 3 l/100 km. With 2.8 l/100 km (emissions of 65 g/km CO2) and an electric range of up to 33 km, the S 500 Plug-In Hybrid sets a new standard of efficiency in the luxury class. By 2017, Mercedes will have 10 models with Plug-In Hybrid technology.
Read first review about Mercedes S 500 Plug-In Hybrid
The new smart generation comes to the original concept. No matter the version – smart fortwo or smart forfour – the engine is mounted in the rear and both versions are rear-wheel drive.
Both 3 cylinder engines comply with the Euro 6 standard and are combined with a new 5-speed manual gearbox or with a new twinamic dual speed gearbox.
Read more about the new generation smart fortwo. forfour
In the following videos you can see the world premieres from Mondial de L’Áutomobile
Annette Winkler presents the new generation smart fortwo and forfour
Dieter Zetsche presents the Mercedes AMG-GT and the AMG C 63 saloon and the T-Model
Dieter Zetsche presents the Mercedes B-Class facelift
