Electel Blogspot

The EQS coming in first half of 2021. Mercedes-Benz plans to launch six new EQ electric car models through 2021/2022, writes Brian Byrne . They will include the EQS luxury sedan in the first half of next year, followed by the compact SUVs EQA and EQB, then the EQE and finally SUV variants of the EQS and EQE in 2022. These will add to the already in production EQC and and EQV all-electric cars. Mercedes-Benz will also be producing its own batteries for the cars, at plants in Germany, Poland, China and the US.  

Looking ahead to 2021, Mercedes-Benz will introduce no fewer than 23 new models many of which will include hybrid and fully electric models with arrivals spread from January through to December, writes Trish Whelan . Of these, six will be conventionally powered vehicles, and five will be new fully electric models as well as a further 12 new PHEV plug-in electric hybrids. First to arrive in January will be the new premium S-Class (pictured above), followed later in the month of a Maybach GLS, first foray by the German carmaker into the luxury crossover segment. In June, revised versions of the 4-door GLS Coupe and AMG GT 4-door Coupe, along with a new S580 Maybach, are scheduled. Following later in the year will be a new SL two-door sports mode and a new C-Class in saloon, Estate and All-Terrain model variants. From the brand’s EQ stable, five fully electric models are expected, the first of which (in January) will be the EQV. Based on the stylish V-Class, demand for the EQV is expecte...

I wrote here about the 1990 Lexus, a successful new luxury brand.  In this post, the subject is Infiniti, another new Japanese luxury brand launched around the same time.  Specifically, the model Q45 (marketed model years 1990-96). Its Wikipedia entry is here . As mentioned in the earlier post, stylists and management surely paid attention to potential competitors.  Below are cars in the American market that were in production during the time Q45 styling was developed.  They were selected on the basis of having wheelbases fairly similar to that of the new Infiniti.  Their designs are compared to that of the Q45. Most of the images below are factory-sourced photos. Gallery 1985 Cadillac Sedan DeVille Basically 1970s-'80s "three box" angular styling featuring large glass areas.  The main concession to aerodynamic efficiency is the slanted windshield. 1981 Lincoln Town Car This model remained in production during the 1980s.  Its design is even more ...

So you want to launch a totally new luxury car brand.  One detail to be decided is the car's styling.  And surely Toyota stylists and management glanced at designs of the new car's intended or possible competition.  How different or similar should it look? The Lexus (Wikipedia entry here ) was launched in the USA for the 1990 model year and was a great success that has continued since. The subject of this post is Lexus styling compared to some potential competitors in production while it was gestating.  Perhaps other brands were evaluated in addition to the set shown below, but those pictured were surly among those studied.  They tend to have similar wheelbases to that of the 1990 Lexus LS 400 (2814 mm, 110.8 inches). Gallery 1985 Cadillac Sedan DeVille Since the US market was key to Lexus market planning, Cadillacs were evaluated.  The current Caddy in the Lexus size range was the Sedan DeVille that appeared for the 1985 model year.  Its styling conti...

Mercedes-Benz is celebrating 25 years of its Sprinter van known for its flexibility, robustness and economy, writes Trish Whelan . It competes in the large 3.0 - 5.5 tonne van segment and is the carrier of choice amongst leading fleet operators here and in more than 130 countries worldwide. Some four million units have been sold worldwide. Sprinter continues to be regarded as the workhorse of the Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles fleet, an all-rounder for the business sector with its new levels of intelligent connectivity, superior comfort and, for the first time, front wheel drive to the market. Features include a new networked, online connectivity system that gives operators comprehensive fleet control - Mercedes PRO Connect and new MBUX multimedia system improve the process of fleet management in multi vehicle, or small company fleets, monitoring functions that include vehicle operation and supervision fleet communication, maintenance management and a digital driver’s logbook. Merce...

An electric version of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter large van is now on sale in Ireland, at €49,995 plus VAT, writes Brian Byrne . The eSprinter joins the mid-sized eVito which costs €39,995, and both vans qualify for a grant of €3,800.  The eSprinter is front-wheel drive with a specification that includes an overall length of 6088mm, payload of 1045kg, kerb weight of 2455 kg, gross vehicle weight of 3500kg and a high roof design. The cargo volume is 11 m3, and the batteries are located under the floor. The factory range claim is up to 120kms, and a 10pc-80pc charge is possible in 70 minutes.  Mercedes-Benz Commercials sales manager for Ireland Fergus Conheady says the new eSprinter and eVito have all of the attributes by which fleet operators measure their vehicles. “Proven and spacious performers, they have the specifications that equip operators to demonstrate their responsible eco-friendly credentials."  

A renewed version of the Mercedes-Benz flagship model, the S-Class, will arrive in Ireland towards the end of the year, writes Brian Byrne . The luxury car maker is concentrating on the interior improvements in both comfort and technology in describing the latest version of a model first produced in 1972. These include the second generation of the MBUX instrumentation and infotainment system, with a 3D display element, and integrated camera system which anticipates a driver's intentions for an advanced gesture control. There is also what the company calls the 'intelligent compliance' with speed limits system as part of the latest generation of the S-Class Driving Assistance Package. The software of more than 50 electronic components in the car can now be updated over the air via the internet. An enhanced 'conditionally automated' driving mode from the second half of next year will be available on the optional Drive Pilot system, managing the driving in high traffic ...

An old stylist saying had it that large cars were easier to style than small ones.  This post deals with Germany's current large, luxurious Maybach .   Once Maybach was a separate automobile company, but eventually was absorbed by Daimler-Benz.  The brand was recreated in 1997 by Mercedes, but sales were never high and this concept was dropped in 2013.  Not long later Mercedes retrieved the Maybach name for its luxury sedan line.  Recent models are depicted in this post. Yes, Maybachs are large. Despite the stylist saying mentioned above, I think that really large cars (think Bugatti Royales) might be more difficult to successfully design than automobiles that are merely large. That said, the current Mercedes Maybachs of varying large size are attractive, if not brilliant designs. Gallery This is a 2019 Mercedes S560 Maybach, also depicted in the next two images.  Note the two-tone paint scheme, a 1940-1960 trait that is being revived in places ...

A body type fashion that began in America for the 1955 model year was the four-door hardtop sedan which lacked a visible B-pillar when windows were rolled town.  This was an extension of the hardtop coupé concept that General Motors first mass-produced for the 1949 model year.  The idea was to market a design with a fixed metal roof having the grace of a convertible coupe/sedan. It took European manufacturers slightly longer than GM's major American competitors to produce four-door hardtops (Ford and Chrysler marketed theirs for 1956).  Today's subject is the Mercedes-Benz 300d ( werknummer W189) launched in August, 1957. The W189's Wikipedia entry is here . I wrote about the closely-related W186 large Mercedes 300s here . About 3,100 W189s were produced 1957-1962.  Their styling was close to that of the W186s, aside from the "pillarless" feature.  Unless noted, the images below are factory-sourced photos. Gallery A 1960 W189 with windows rolled up.  Asid...

Today's car stylists are greatly constrained by the corporate need to shape bodies by wind tunnel testing with the goal of improving or maintaining propulsive efficiency.  Packaging considerations further constrain the basic shapes of vehicles.  This combination is especially constrictive where sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) are concerned. The present post deals with entry-level SUVs from Mercedes-Benz and Porsche that reached the market in the mid- 2010-2020 decade.  Mercedes' SUV is the GLA-Series (Wikipedia entry here ), the Porsche Macan's brief entry is here . The GLA is the SUV version of Mercedes' entry-level A-Class.  Its initial wheelbase was 106.3 inches, 2966 mm, compared to 110.5 inches, 2807 mm for the Macan.  Therefore, the Macan can be considered in the next higher class of SUV. Nevertheless, the two models are worth comparing because they are from storied German brands, because they are near-contemporaries, and because they offer perspective on Ge...