All posts by Francis Mitterrand

News

Mercedes is building a new charging stations network

The sale of electric vehicles is on the rise, and with that comes the problem of an insufficient number of charging stations. State authorities cannot solve such a problem by themselves, so car manufacturers decide to open their own charging stations. Mercedes-Benz has announced the opening of a network of charging stations with chargers of up to 400kW.

Mercedes previously revealed plans to partner with ChargePoint to build a network called the Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging Network. The first installations will include CCS and Tesla’s NACS connectors and will also be available for electric cars from other manufacturers.

Charging stations will be in Atlanta, Georgia, Chengdu and Mannheim this fall, and depending on the region, the stations will offer charging power up to 400kW via the standard systems CCSI (North America), CCS2 (Europe), NACS (Tesla) and GB/T (China ). The plan is to build 400 stations with 2,000 chargers in the US, as well as 2,000 stations worldwide by the end of next year.

Mercedes has already agreed with Tesla to access its Supercharger network with a CCS-to-NACS adapter that will arrive in 2024. However, this agreement with Tesla does not refer to a new network of charging stations, as Mercedes has announced a partnership with six other manufacturers including BMW, GM, Honda, Hyundai, KIA and Stellantis to build a network of 30,000 new charging stations for electric cars across of North America. These stations will have CCS and NACS connectors.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

Auctions

1961 Porsche 356B Coupe is up for auction

In 1959, Porsche introduced the second version of its first production car, the Porsche 356B, which was produced until 1963. They are highly desirable among Porsche fans, especially those in excellent condition. One such, modified in 356 GT style, 1961 Porsche 356B Coupe is up for auction.

This 356B Coupe is powered by a replacement 1,720 cc flat-four engine, and the work was done by Markham Motor Works. Twin Solex carburetors and a full-flow oil filter were installed, the electrical system was converted to 12 volts, and the wiring harness and fuse box were replaced. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a Type 741 four-speed manual transmission. It is mounted on silver 15″ alloy wheels wrapped in 195/65 Goodyear Eagle Sport tires.

The car is finished in shade of gray, properly maintained and is in excellent condition. It is equipped with plexiglass vent, door, rear-quarter, and rear window glass, Xenon headlights and left fender-mounted mirror, leather hood strips, dual exhaust vents, and a front sway bar and aftermarket shocks at each corner, master cylinder, wheel cylinders, and brake lines replace the original four-wheel drum brake system.

Inside, Speedster-style seats are upholstered in tan leather, while gray leather covers the door panels, upper dashboard and rear seats. A fire extinguisher is mounted between the seats. In front of the driver is a wood-rimmed Nardi steering wheel behind which is a five-digit odometer showing 4,770 miles. Additional equipment includes latch-and-link lap belts, leather window pulls, Porsche crests embroidered on the seat backs, drilled pedals, and a Custom Autosound stereo stored in the lockable glovebox.

The car comes with refurbishment photos and records, a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, and a clean California title in the seller’s name that lists the vehicle as a 1960 model year.

The auction ends on August 31st and the current highest bid is $90,000 USD.

Source: Bring a Trailer

Gallery:

1961 Porsche 356B Coupe is up for auction
News

Mercedes-Benz V-Class Marco Polo and the T-Class Marco Polo

After Volkswagen introduced its new van (VW California), another German carmaker expanded its range with two campers, the Mercedes-Benz V-Class Marco Polo and the T-Class Marco Polo.

The camper market has been growing steadily for many years, and last year the camper rental industry reached a value of $403 million, not including sales. This has attracted large companies and even electric vehicle manufacturers want a piece of the pie.

The Mercedes-Benz T-Class Marco Polo is a small family van that debuted last year. Although it offers less space compared to its relative V-Class Marco Polo, it still offers a lot. It is equipped with a bed for two people, a kitchen, a refrigerator, an auxiliary battery and a Sleeping Package, which prevents the entry of light during the day and provides protection from insects.

The Mercedes-Benz V-Class Marco Polo is more luxurious and offers more. It is based on the new model that was presented a month ago, and although the exterior is very attractive, the focus is still on the interior. It is equipped with two 12.3-inch wide screens, the latest version of the MBUX system, as well as navigation with augmented reality. The seats can be converted into bunk beds, which gives more space. Additional equipment includes a folding table, fully equipped kitchen and space for clothes. There is a touch screen in the front that can be controlled via a smartphone application, and the rear sliding door has an ambient lighting system with 64 colors.

The van also has an Airmatic air suspension that automatically levels the vehicle, so that parking on uneven surfaces is no longer a problem.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

Gallery:

Mercedes-Benz V-Class Marco Polo and the T-Class Marco Polo