Tag Archives: Mercedes-Benz

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Mercedes-Benz Vans will offer vehicles with a combustion engine from 2026

The German automobile industry is trying to get out of a deep crisis, and the development of only electric vehicles does not offer great optimism at the moment. With cheap and far more advanced EVs from China, German manufacturers can hardly cope, so as a solution they continued to offer versions with combustion engines. Thus, Mercedes-Benz Vans announced that starting next year, it will also include light commercial vehicles with combustion engines in its offer.

Mercedes-Benz Vans was primarily focused on the production of all-electric vehicles, but reality forced the company to follow the wishes of customers who are increasingly choosing models with a combustion engine. Their previous vehicles were based on the VAN.EA platform (Van Electric Architecture) and now Mercedes says they will develop a new VAN.CA (Van Combustion Architecture) platform. Both platforms will share almost 70% of components, which enables the production of vehicles on the same line, but also reduces costs.

With this change in strategy, Mercedes-Benz Vans strives to secure a better position in the future on the European market as well as easier adaptability to customer wishes.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

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Mercedes to shut down EQS AMG

Electric car sales have been declining for the past few years, and manufacturers are already considering what to do next. The trend is expected to continue into 2025, so some manufacturers have decided to postpone the launch of new models, while some models will be discontinued, such as the Mercedes EQS AMG.

According to reliable sources, the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ has not yet left the production lines, but will do so in the next few months. A decision that cannot be implemented immediately, as it requires a series of operational and marketing preparations, as well as informing the dealer network that this flagship Mercedes most luxurious electric model will soon be removed from the offer. In the coming period, only ordered cars will be produced.

Mercedes is getting rid of a model that may not have attracted customers with its design, but the same cannot be said for its performance. The EQS AMG is powered by two electric motors with a total power of 658 hp, which is enough to accelerate to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds. With the optional “Dynamic Plus” package, power increases to 761 hp.

In August, Mercedes announced a new plan, this time EQS and S-Class under one name. Also, it was said that Mercedes will not give up on internal combustion engines, at least not until the end of the decade. “In the future, there will be two S-Classes, one with ICE and one with electric drive,” said Mercedes director Ola Kallenius. This means that buyers will have more choice, as with the G-Class which is offered with internal combustion engines and as all-electric.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

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1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen sold for €51.15 million

This Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen was sold a few days ago for 51.15 million euros. It is one of only 14 units ever produced, and one of only four known complete examples mounted with the exquisite factory-built enclosed-fender Stromlinienwagen coachwork at the conclusion of the 1955 Formula One season.

The story of the W 196 R Stromlienwagen started in 1952 when the FIA ​​canceled the 1952 and 1953 seasons due to a lack of credible competition, and new regulations were introduced for 1954. These regulations specified that normally aspirated engines could not exceed 2.5 liters, while naturally aspirated engines were limited to 750 cubic centimeters. That’s why Mercedes-Benz created a truss-type narrow-diameter tubular space frame similar to the chassis of the W 194 300 SL, and equipped it with a front independent suspension via double wishbones, torsion springs and top-of-the-line hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers, and massive Alfin drum brakes.

However, since it was specified with few limitations to coachwork, Mercedes-Benz chose an open body in the shape of a W 196 R torpedo. This body, also known as Streamliner or Stromlinienwagen, was made in limited quantity by the racing department out of Elektron magnesium alloy, providing a shell even lighter than aluminum for a total weight of just over 88 pounds.

This W 196 R Stromlienwagen made its debut at the 1955 Buenos Aires Grand Prix, which was unusual in that it consisted of two separate heats of 30 laps each, with the winner determined by the fastest total aggregate time. This car was driven by Fangio, who finished 2nd in both races but won with an overall time of 2:23:18.9.

At the end of the 1955 season, Fangio was champion and Moss finished second. In two seasons, the model won three championships in two different racing series, demonstrating Mercedes-Benz’s dominance in Formula 1 racing. After retiring from racing, the car remained part of the collection until 1969, when it was donated to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.

Source: RM Sotheby’s

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1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen sold for €51.15 million