About Mercedes-BenzGerman engineers Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz formed Mercedes-Benz when they merged their companies in 1926. Forty years previously, in a remarkable coincidence, each man independently filed patents for what might be claimed as the first automobile. Benz designed a three-wheeled vehicle powered by a one-cylinder engine--and invented the spark plug--in 1886. In the same year, Daimler outfitted a four-wheel carriage with a single-cylinder engine of his own design.The Mercedes name would become tied to Daimler indirectly, as part of a 1900 business deal. Emil Jellinek, a Daimler agent, contracted to sell the first 36 cars of a new Daimler sports car, contingent on, among other things, the car being named after his daughter. M-B production facilities were decimated by the Allied bombing of Germany during World War II, but the company showed the world that it was still in business by producing a hand-built prototype 170V sedan by February, 1946--and had it in production by that June. The Le Mans-dominating 300SL race cars produced for 1952 would... View more gather international attention, spawning a production version by 1955 that would be the fastest road-going car in the world. With its unmistakable gull wing doors, the 300SL became an immediate automotive icon and infused the Mercedes brand with a newfound sportiness that would be eagerly embraced by the American market. Today, market price for a Gullwing is around three-quarters of a million dollars, with some selling for even more. A 300SL roadster would soon follow, along with a toned-down but similarly styled 190SL, which was produced until 1963. The SL "super light" line would develop over the coming decades into a very successful luxury tourer. Of the "Pagoda"-series cars, the final-year 1971 280SL cars are considered the most desirable, for their 2.8-liter power plant. The "Panzerwagen" R107-chassis SLs would remain in production for an astounding eighteen years, from late 1971 to 1989. All Mercedes-Benz cars older than about 1972 were hand-built, and the company's reputation for quality and durability remained unchallenged into the 1980s. Through the 1990s, however, M-B faced stiff competition from Japanese automakers entering the luxury market with Lexus, Acura, and Infiniti brands. To compete with Japanese quality, M-B ramped up the luxury, adding features like power-assist trunks and headlight wipers. In 1999, custom M-B tuning house AMG was acquired by Mercedes. AMG engines are hand-nutted and individually built, making AMG model cars the most expensive and highest-performers in the Mercedes-Benz line. Mercedes debuted the small "M-Class" SUV in 1997, and since 2006 has offered a full-sized crossover "GL-Class" SUV. The G-Class "G-wagon" is a luxury SUV styled after the boxy vintage Mercedes-Benz military vehicle. Among the smaller cars in the M-B lineup are the mid-size CLK-Class convertible and coupe, compact C-Class executive car, and the compact CLC-Class hatchback. In 2007, Mercedes-Benz's J.D. Power ranking for initial quality jumped from 25th to 5th place--ahead of Toyota. In 2008, they managed to improve their ranking even further, to 4th place. View less Popular Mercedes-Benz ModelsMercedes-Benz C300The Mercedes-Benz C class has enjoyed a long life as the Baby Benz" since its initial release in 1993. Classified as a compact executive car, it serves as the entry-level Mercedes for American enthusiasts.... More about the Mercedes-Benz C300 Mercedes-Benz C350The Mercedes-Benz C class has enjoyed a long life as the Baby Benz" since its initial release in 1993. Classified as a compact executive car, it serves as the entry-level Mercedes for American enthusiasts.... More about the Mercedes-Benz C350 Mercedes-Benz CL500Anyone who craves comfort, performance, and speed in a grand touring luxury car will probably have a Mercedes-Benz CL on his or her wish list. The line has assumed different names during its production life,... More about the Mercedes-Benz CL500 Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMGAnyone who craves comfort, performance, and speed in a grand touring luxury car will probably have a Mercedes-Benz CL on his or her wish list. The line has assumed different names during its production life,... More about the Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMGAnyone who craves comfort, performance, and speed in a grand touring luxury car will probably have a Mercedes-Benz CL on his or her wish list. The line has assumed different names during its production life,... More about the Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG Mercedes-Benz CLK500The debut of Mercedes-Benz CLK class was a breath of fresh air for luxury-car enthusiasts. Its sportier demeanor caught the eye of all those drivers who were seeking more style from the German automaker. No... More about the Mercedes-Benz CLK500 Mercedes-Benz CLK550The debut of Mercedes-Benz CLK class was a breath of fresh air for luxury-car enthusiasts. Its sportier demeanor caught the eye of all those drivers who were seeking more style from the German automaker. No... More about the Mercedes-Benz CLK550 Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMGThe debut of Mercedes-Benz CLK class was a breath of fresh air for luxury-car enthusiasts. Its sportier demeanor caught the eye of all those drivers who were seeking more style from the German automaker. No... More about the Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Mercedes-Benz CLS550Mercedes-Benz is finally releasing the replacement for its original CLS that brought the automaker back into the executive car market segment. Today's edition of the CLS is a bit more sedate than its previous... More about the Mercedes-Benz CLS550 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMGMercedes-Benz is finally releasing the replacement for its original CLS that brought the automaker back into the executive car market segment. Today's edition of the CLS is a bit more sedate than its previous... More about the Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG Mercedes-Benz E350The Mercedes-Benz E-Class line has been an automotive Atlas for the German-based manufacturer, helping to shoulder the success of Mercedes for more than 50 years. The E-Class lineup in 2011 includes four... More about the Mercedes-Benz E350 Mercedes-Benz E550The Mercedes-Benz E-Class line has been an automotive Atlas for the German-based manufacturer, helping to shoulder the success of Mercedes for more than 50 years. The E-Class lineup in 2011 includes four... More about the Mercedes-Benz E550 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMGThe Mercedes-Benz E-Class line has been an automotive Atlas for the German-based manufacturer, helping to shoulder the success of Mercedes for more than 50 years. The E-Class lineup in 2011 includes four... More about the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Mercedes-Benz G55 AMGThe Mercedes-Benz G-Class is a four-wheel SUV that is recognized as being a rugged and reliable off-roader. It offers seating for five. For many years since its inception, many different countries have used... More about the Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG Mercedes-Benz GL550The Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is a luxury crossover SUV that has been in production since 2006. The car was made for the American market, and it performed much better in the U.S. than it did in Europe. The... More about the Mercedes-Benz GL550 Mercedes-Benz ML350The Mercedes Benz M Class is a mid-sized SUV with a body-on-frame construction that began life in the Mercedes plant near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, as a 1998 model. The USA plant was built expressly for production... More about the Mercedes-Benz ML350 Mercedes-Benz ML500The Mercedes Benz M Class is a mid-sized SUV with a body-on-frame construction that began life in the Mercedes plant near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, as a 1998 model. The USA plant was built expressly for production... More about the Mercedes-Benz ML500 Mercedes-Benz ML55 AMGThe Mercedes Benz M Class is a mid-sized SUV with a body-on-frame construction that began life in the Mercedes plant near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, as a 1998 model. The USA plant was built expressly for production... More about the Mercedes-Benz ML55 AMG Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMGThe Mercedes Benz M Class is a mid-sized SUV with a body-on-frame construction that began life in the Mercedes plant near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, as a 1998 model. The USA plant was built expressly for production... More about the Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG Mercedes-Benz R350The Mercedes-Benz R-Class five-door wagon is the top choice of auto enthusiasts looking for the features and convenience of a mini-van with the luxury features of a higher level brand. The R-Class is... More about the Mercedes-Benz R350 Mercedes-Benz S500The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a large, German luxury sedan. It offers room for a family of five as well as a large trunk holding over 16 cubic feet of luggage or other cargo. More than its commodious size and... More about the Mercedes-Benz S500 Mercedes-Benz S600The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a large, German luxury sedan. It offers room for a family of five as well as a large trunk holding over 16 cubic feet of luggage or other cargo. More than its commodious size and... More about the Mercedes-Benz S600 Mercedes-Benz SL500Sports Leicht (Sport Light), or SL, is the designation given to a class of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, most of which are two-seat sports models. The SL-Class was introduced in 1954 with the 300SL and 190SL models.... More about the Mercedes-Benz SL500 Mercedes-Benz SL550Sports Leicht (Sport Light), or SL, is the designation given to a class of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, most of which are two-seat sports models. The SL-Class was introduced in 1954 with the 300SL and 190SL models.... More about the Mercedes-Benz SL550 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMGSports Leicht (Sport Light), or SL, is the designation given to a class of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, most of which are two-seat sports models. The SL-Class was introduced in 1954 with the 300SL and 190SL models.... More about the Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Mercedes-Benz SLK300The Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class is a two-door sports coupe convertible. It is a front-engine, rear-wheel drive vehicle. Mercedes-Benz classifies the SLK-Class as a roadster and it features a retractable hardtop.... More about the Mercedes-Benz SLK300 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLarenThe Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is a convertible, grand touring class vehicle that comes as either a two-door coupe or two-door roadster. It is a front mid-engine, rear-wheel drive vehicle and represents a... More about the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Other Mercedes-Benz Models | |||
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