Four model premieres for Mercedes-Benz at the 71st International Geneva Motor Show:

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News of February 14, 2001
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Four model premieres for Mercedes-Benz at the 71st International Geneva Motor Show:

A-Class: New long-wheelbase version with the spaciousness of the luxury class
C-Class: European premiere of the new Estate model
C-Class: High-performance C 32 AMG Estate on the starting line
SLK-Class: 354 hp Roadster by Mercedes-AMG

Geneva - At the Geneva International Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz will be firing the second stage of this year's product introduction fireworks, thereby reaffirming its leading position as the world's most innovative premium car manufacturer in this, the brand's centenary year. No less than four new Mercedes models are celebrating their world or European premiere in Geneva.

New A-Class

Centre stage in this presentation is taken by the A-Class with an extended wheelbase, adding further diversity to the model range of this successful compact car from the spring of 2001. No other car in this market segment exhibits such a high level of comfort and spaciousness as well as interior variability as the new long-wheelbase version of the A-Class, which has up to 170 millimetres more rear legroom and a 14 percent more luggage compartment capacity than the unchanged standard version of this compact Mercedes model.

In many of the comfort-related dimensions the extended A-Class matches the high standard of luxury class saloons. Thanks to the variable rear seat unit, which may be infinitely adjusted fore-and-aft by 111 millimetres, the driver is free to decide whether to utilise the increase in space for passengers in the rear or for more luggage capacity. Even with the rear seat unit in its most forward position the long-wheelbase version of the A-Class provides 60 millimetres more legroom than the normal version. At the same time the luggage capacity is increased by 80 litres to 470 litres with this rear seat position.

Estate: exemplary functionality and use of space

Intelligent functionality and exemplary variability - these are just two of the outstanding virtues of the new C-Class Estate, which is being presented to the European public for the first time following its attention-getting world premiere at the North American International Auto Show at the beginning of this year.

With its sporty design and the top-class technology typical of a Mercedes, this compact Estate car is among the trendsetters in this vehicle class. Depending on the position of the multifunctional rear seat unit the Estate has a load capacity of 470 to 1384 litres according to the VDA measuring method. The rear seat cushions and backrests may be folded forward either as a complete unit or on one side only, providing a level loading surface measuring up to 1.5 square metres.

Innovations such as windowbags, a multifunction steering wheel, Headlamp Assist, cruise control with the SPEEDTRONIC function and a six-speed transmission are standard equipment in the new Estate, which will be available in Europe from March 2001. Numerous high-tech systems from the top-of-the-line Mercedes-Benz Saloons are available as optional extras. These include COMAND, the innovative control and display system with a navigation system and TV receiver; the LINGUATRONIC voice-control system for a telephone and radio; the sensor-controlled luxury automatic climate control system THERMOTRONIC and the modern telematic services TELE-AID and TELEDIAGNOSIS, to name just a few.

Sports Estate: C 32 AMG with the highest torque in this displacement class

Mercedes-Benz C32 AMG

Photos: DaimlerChrysler

The exclusive top-of-the-range variant of the C-Class Estate is celebrating its world premiere in Geneva. Its model designation is C 32 AMG, and with its powerful, supercharged V6 engine it enters new dimensions in terms of torque: this 260 kW / 354 hp power plant generates a impressive 450 Newton metres from 4400 rpm - an absolutely top-class value unequalled by any other car in the sporty mid-range segment. The new C 32 AMG Estate therefore has all the credentials for exceptional performance, and this is reflected in its acceleration figure of just 5.4 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h.

This V6-engine also underlines its superiority with an NEDC combined fuel consumption of just 11.9 litres per 100 kilometres and an exemplary, low level of exhaust emissions to the EU-4 standard.

Power roadster: SLK 32 AMG with a 354 hp supercharged V6 engine

The second European premiere on the Mercedes stand at the Geneva Motor Show also comes from Mercedes-AMG: the new SLK 32 AMG. Like the new AMG C-Class models this captivating roadster sets new standards among sports-cars in its class thanks to the effortless power of its 260 kW/354 hp V6-engine: the SLK 32 AMG accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h in just 5.2 seconds, and reaches the 200 km/h mark after only 18.4 seconds.

With the help of a new helical supercharger which generates a 30 percent higher charge pressure the six-cylinder power plant develops a remarkable torque of 400 Newton metres at the low engine speed of 2300 rpm. At 4500 rpm the engine reaches its maximum torque of 450 Newton metres. Despite such outstanding performance the new SLK 32 AMG has a fuel consumption of only 11.2 litres of premium petrol per 100 kilometres, and already meets the particularly demanding EU-4 emission standard which comes into force in 2005. The AMG Speedshift automatic transmission is likewise standard equipment in this high-performance roadster.

(Feb. 07, 2001)

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