Gabriele del Torchio takes delivery of new company car: Ducati president to drive new CLS 63 AMG

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Affalterbach/Bologna, Germany/Italy, May 17, 2011 - President and CEO of Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. Gabriele del Torchio recently took delivery, at the company's headquarters in Bologna, of his new company car: a CLS 63 AMG with AMG Performance package, in designo zircon red.


"I'm already looking forward to having fun at the wheel of the new CLS 63 AMG, which to me really seems to offer the perfect synthesis of power, elegance and efficiency. We are working hard on the implementation of the first joint projects between AMG and Ducati", commented Gabriele del Torchio, President and CEO of Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.

"The cooperation agreement signed with Ducati at the Los Angeles Show in November 2010 is already bearing fruit - as you can see from the joint activities that are now getting under way. We can't wait to hear Gabriele del Torchio's thoughts on the new CLS 63 AMG", said Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

Along with Gabriele del Torchio, Ducati MotoGP works rider Nicky Hayden (29, USA) also recently became the owner of a CLS 63 AMG. The motorcycle world champion of 2006 received his own high-performance coupé from Ola Källenius in Affalterbach in April 2011 in the presence of the AMG workforce, by whom he was welcomed as a new member of the AMG family.

The four-door coupé as the ultimate in top performance

The CLS 63 AMG features the AMG V8 biturbo engine with maximum power of up to 410 kW (557 hp) and 800 newton metres of torque, along with the AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission. The vehicle's fuel consumption of 9.9 litres per 100 km according to NEDC represents an improvement of 32 percent over the previous model - making this power pack the most efficient high-performance V8 engine in the world. The combination of the AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspension with electronically controlled damping system and new front axle, the newly developed electromechanical AMG sports parameter steering and the optional AMG ceramic high-performance composite braking system adds up to the ultimate in driving dynamics. Visually, the CLS 63 AMG impresses with its athletic appearance and its distinctive exterior and interior design. The standard specification also includes the new LED High Performance headlamps.

Cooperation and initiation of joint customer events

Thanks to AMG's role as the Official Car Partner of the MotoGP team, the AMG logo will be showing throughout the 2011 season not only on the motorcycles and racing overalls of Ducati works riders Valentino Rossi (Italy) and Nicky Hayden (US), but also on the official teamwear and in the Ducati Lounge. Since the early part of 2011, all team trucks and back-up vehicles have come from Mercedes-Benz. The complete company fleet at Ducati's headquarters has also been switched to Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

Beyond the MotoGP, too, there are first visible signs of the cooperation agreement signed between Mercedes-AMG and Ducati at the Los Angeles Motor Show in November 2010 - including for example various marketing activities, joint appearances at motor shows, and customer events. In the AMG core markets of the US, China, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Australia, Great Britain and Switzerland, the announcement of the cooperation was very soon followed by the establishment of close links at market level.

AMG and Ducati share motor show appearances

The first joint motor show appearance between AMG and Ducati took place in April 2011 at the New York Auto Show. The products of the new cooperation partner will also be an integral part of the display at the IAA in Frankfurt/Main, the Los Angeles Auto Show and the Bologna Motor Show. AMG and Ducati products are in the meantime also to be found in selected Mercedes-Benz and Ducati showrooms. Some Mercedes-Benz dealers in the US and Italy will in future also become Ducati outlets, offering the Italian motorcycle brand's products as part of their range.

As well as static presentations, there are plans for dynamic driving events. Within the context of the AMG Driving Academy, there will be opportunities in future for participants to test Ducati motorcycles. A first joint event between AMG and Ducati will be taking place for AMG Private Lounge members as early as May 2011 at the Paul Ricard circuit in Le Castellet (France). Further events are already being planned. Competitions, surveys and further activities will be offered exclusively to the 13,000 members of the AMG Private Lounge customer community. Ducati, too, will be integrating AMG high-performance vehicles into its own events. The Ducati Diavel customer event held in China in April 2011, for instance, was supported through the provision of various AMG models.

Further joint communication activities have already been initiated. These include the promotional product film for the new C 63 AMG Coupé, in which the Ducati 848 evo played a dynamic leading role. In addition there are plans to expand the AMG web special about the cooperation with Ducati (see www.mercedes-amg.com). Ducati will also in future be integrated into the AMG Magazine through editorial reports as well as advertising.

Ducati and AMG: racing, high performance, exclusivity

Founded in 1926, Ducati originally produced components for radios. From 1946 Ducati focused on the manufacturing of motorcycles, gaining a first-class reputation in the two-wheeler sector over the ensuing decades. Today the name of this motorcycle manufacturer from Bologna, Italy, is synonymous with performance based on cutting-edge technology, numerous motorcycle racing victories and distinctive design. The brand image complements that of AMG in an ideal way.

AMG was founded in 1967 and the early years of the company's history were devoted exclusively to motor racing. The first major success came with a second place overall for the 300 SEL 6.8 AMG in the 24-hour race at Spa‑Francorchamps, Belgium, in 1971. Over the following years AMG developed from a two-man operation to become a world-famous brand under the umbrella of Mercedes-Benz.

Numerous racing victories, superlative technology born out of this success, first-class quality, unique high-performance vehicles and an unmistakable brand experience such as that offered by the AMG Driving Academy, have come together to form what is recognised as an exclusive brand image.

As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler AG, Mercedes-AMG GmbH, founded in 1999, is responsible for all development processes relating to the chassis, engine, suspension, brakes, electronics, aerodynamics, interior and design, right up to final approval of the complete AMG car.

The SLS AMG as a masterpiece in AMG's history

The SLS AMG, launched in 2009, is Mercedes-AMG GmbH's automotive masterpiece. As the first automobile to have been largely independently developed by the company, the super sports car is the highlight of a history that goes back more than 40 years. It not only takes AMG into a new era, but also demonstrates development expertise of the very highest order.

AMG's special focus is on the heart of any automobile, namely the engine. The company's core expertise in developing and producing powerful engines has been assiduously perfected right from the start. In the state-of-the-art AMG engine shop, highly qualified specialists follow the traditional "one man – one engine" philosophy to produce high-performance AMG V8 and V12 engines to the highest quality standards.







Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Mercedes-Benz Gets Off to a Successful Start in Second Quarter, with Sales Up 8.2 Percent

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

• Dr. Joachim Schmidt: “Our sales figures in April marked a successful start into the second quarter and increased significantly in many markets. China, where we set a new sales record in April, continues to play an important role in driving our growth.”
• “We are optimistic about the second quarter and want to boost sales above last year’s level. In the full year, we aim to achieve a new sales record and want to sell more than 1.3 million Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and smart fortwo.”
• New generation of the C-Class sedan becomes market leader right from the start, sales of new SLK increase by 47.7 percent
• S-Class sedan number one in its segment with sales up by 34.3 percent
smart sales again above previous year’s level

Stuttgart, Germany, May 04, 2011 - Following strong sales results in the first quarter, Mercedes-Benz continued to be successful in April. Sales rose by 8.2 percent compared to the high volume recorded in the same month last year. The brand delivered a total of 100,703 passenger cars worldwide (April 2010: 93,077). Since the start of the year, sales have risen by 11.5 percent to 381,255 units (Jan. – April 2010: 342,035).


Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars: “Our sales figures in April marked a successful start into the second quarter and increased significantly in many markets. China, where we set a new sales record in April, continues to play an important role in driving our growth. We continue to be optimistic about the second quarter, during which we want to boost sales above last year’s level.”

Growth in the second quarter will be based on the success of the current product range and particularly on new products such as the facelifted C-Class and the new SLK. Demand for both models was already very high in the first month after the market launch. 20.965 units of the C-Class sedan were delivered, capturing the market leadership in its segment right from the start.

Including the new estate, sales in April rose 14.3 percent compared to April 2010. In the first month following its market launch, sales of the new SLK also climbed sharply, starting the convertible season with an increase of 47.7 percent. The new C-Class coupe is waiting in the starting blocks to continue the success of the new C-Class generation. It will be in dealers’ showrooms beginning in June. Mercedes-Benz will introduce additional new models to the market later this year: the new M-Class and the SLS roadster, which will hit showrooms this fall, and the new B-Class, which will be launched at the end of the year.

“This attractive product lineup gives us a very good competitive position,” added Schmidt. “In the full year, we aim to achieve a new sales record and want to sell more than 1.3 million Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and smart fortwo.”

In April, sales of Mercedes-Benz in China (including Hong Kong) rose by 46.9 percent compared to the high volume recorded in the same month last year. As a result, the brand achieved a new record result of 16,536 units (April 2010: 11,254). During the first four months of the year, sales jumped by 68.2 percent to 59,526 passenger cars (Jan. – April 2010: 35,381). In April, sales also rose substantially in South Korea (plus 56.6 percent) and Taiwan (plus 19.7 percent).

In India (plus 61.3 percent) and Russia (plus 59.5 percent) Mercedes-Benz achieved a new record.
A total of 18,042 units (April 2010: 17,628) were sold in the U.S. last month, an increase of 2.3 percent on the result posted in April 2010. Since January, deliveries totaled 71,388 units (Jan. – April 2010: 66,857), an increase of 6.8 percent on the same period last year.

In Germany, demand rose 3.3 percent in April to 22,270 units (April 2010: 21,551). Mercedes-Benz thus remained the strongest premium brand in its home market. Sales were also above last year’s level for the first four months, totaling 71,588 units (Jan. – April 2010: 70,796). In Western Europe, Mercedes-Benz grew by 2.2 percent overall, delivering 46,817 cars to customers (April 2010: 45,801). Growth rates were recorded, for example, in France (plus 8.9 percent), Spain (plus 4.4 percent), Belgium (plus 11.6 percent), and Sweden (plus 19.6 percent).

In the luxury class, the S-Class sedan once again set the benchmark for its segment in April. At 6,305 units, sales were up by 34.3 percent, making it the number one car in its competitive class. Mercedes-Benz also continues to grow in the E-Class segment, with customer deliveries rising by 8.1 percent to 28,708 vehicles. The new E-Class convertible was particularly popular last month (plus 84.7 percent) and remained the market leader. The new CLS which is available since January has also been on track for success, with sales rising by 70.4 percent compared to April 2010. Demand also continued to be dynamic for all Mercedes-Benz SUVs, with sales increasing to the record figure of 19.640 units (plus 21.4 percent). One of the reasons for this success were strong growth rates for the GLK (plus 62.1 percent). In the compact car segment the B-Class continued to increase sales in April (plus 26.2 percent).

Sales of the smart fortwo continued to develop positively in April and totaled 9,341 units last month, representing a 3.2 percent increase on the previous year (April 2010: 9,053). During the year to date, sales of the two-seater have risen by 7.9 percent to 34,322 vehicles (Jan. – April 2010: 31,806). Demand for the smart continues to be strong in China (including Hong Kong), where sales rose almost five-fold in April, to 1,026 units (April 2010: 210). In Germany, the two-seater was at the top of its segment in April for the 14th consecutive month.

Overview of sales by Mercedes-Benz Cars

Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.