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Kyalami, Midrand – Following the recent onslaught of new model introductions by luxury motor manufacturer Mercedes-Benz, and its sports car and high-performance brand Mercedes-AMG, the brand will be showcasing and demonstrating a number of its fascinating and exciting products to customers and car fanatics who will be in attendance at the Festival of Motoring at the Kyalami Race Track from 31 August through to 04 September.
“The festival provides a wonderful opportunity to not only exhibit our new and exciting products, but to also demonstrate the technological advancements of our products, including our all-new executive sedan, the E-Class, also known as the Masterpiece of Intelligence,” says Selvin Govender, Marketing Director, Mercedes-Benz Cars.
“We are also using this occasion to extend our AMG Performance Tour to our racing fans with a number of our performance models including our Mercedes-AMG GT3, a specialised customer racing car. The AMG GT3 is fully developed in-house by Mercedes-AMG engineers to comply with the FIA’s GT3 race rules to compete in the world’s most hotly contested customer race series. Cutting-edge racing technology and spectacular design predestine the AMG GT3 that has a number of victories under its belt since introduction in 2015. The AMG GT3 is based on the Mercedes-AMG GT, which will also be seen in action on the racetrack at Kyalami,” adds Govender.
Mercedes-AMG models – including the recently launched C 63 Coupé and its sibling, the C 63 sedan, with their 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine delivering outstanding performance figures and an emotional engine sound – will also be a highlight in the performance area. Engine outputs range from 350 kW for the C 63 to 375 kW for the C 63 S. This new engine is closely related to the power unit that gives the Mercedes-AMG GT its breath-taking performance.
Another Mercedes-AMG to join the test drive and display area is the iconic SL 63, a top performer in a wide variety of disciplines: an elegant roadster for relaxed, comfortable cruising or a dynamic coupé for sporty trips on winding roads. The SL is an all-season roadster that is fully suited for everyday use and whatever its owner desires – it fulfils the expectations with technical perfection.
“For more than 60 years the Mercedes-Benz SL has enthralled sports car fans around the world, and will continue to enthral patrons at this year’s festival,” says Govender.
Compact cars from Mercedes-AMG have proven to be extremely successful, and the popular A 45, CLA 45 and GLA 45, the entry-level models from Mercedes-AMG, are the world’s most powerful compact sports models. With a peak output of 280 kW and maximum torque of 475 Nm, these models will also be available for test drives, together with their sporty siblings, the A 250 and CLA 250 model variants.
Mercedes-Benz is heading into the open-air season by launching the first cabriolet based on the C-Class, thereby rounding off its range of cabriolets with a classic fabric soft top. The new cabriolet’s design interprets modern luxury with a youthful touch. Featuring plenty of high-quality details, its distinctive character is most apparent when the top is down.
“The AMG product portfolio will continue to grow rapidly this year, making the world of Driving Performance more diverse than ever, and with the all new C-Class C 43 Cabriolet and the facelifted SLC 43, we are offering a younger target group yet another alternative to discover the fascinating world of AMG. These new models will also be on display and available for test drives for patrons to experience,” adds Govender.
2016 is “The Year of Open Top Driving” for Mercedes-Benz and to celebrate the feast of new roadsters and cabriolets, the brand is presenting a superlative dream car in the guise of the Mercedes-AMG S 63 Cabriolet.
“For the first time in its history, Mercedes-Benz’s sports-car and performance brand is offering a four-seater cabriolet in the S-Class segment, which augments the product portfolio with an attractive alternative for car enthusiasts with a passion for performance and luxury,” explains Govender.
“Showing off high-performance technology coupled with expressive exterior and interior design, it is immediately apparent that the new S 63 Cabriolet is built by car enthusiasts for car enthusiasts – the ultimate dream car – and we are ecstatic to host our local premiere of this model at the festival,” he adds.
The bi-turbo eight-cylinder engine of the Mercedes-AMG S 63 Cabriolet is produced in the hand-finishing section of AMG’s production plant in Affalterbach, based on the “One Man – One Engine” philosophy. This means that each engine is assembled by a highly qualified technician who applies the strictest quality standards. This technician is responsible for everything from installing the crankshaft in the engine block and assembling the camshafts, to wiring the engine and filling it with engine oil – as clearly evidenced by the signature on the AMG engine badge.
2015 was the “Year of the SUV” for Mercedes-Benz and, to add another highlight to the extensive SUV range, the brand now introduces the all-new GLC Coupé.
“The sportily youthful GLC Coupé draws glances with its dynamically expressive design. It blends the striking main body section and the Mercedes-Benz design idiom of current SUV models with the characteristic elongated roof line of a sports coupé. The GLC Coupé is the sports car amongst SUVs, with a perfect combination from two different worlds,” says Govender.
Hot and cool – these two poles form the sensuously pure design idiom of the Mercedes-Benz design philosophy, perfectly embodied by the GLC Coupé. On the one hand, modern aesthetics were the source of inspiration for the sensuous lines, surfaces and proportions of the new sportily youthful coupé generation with the characteristic off-road touch. On the other, the designers have created minimalist, purist forms which emphasise the new off-road coupé’s intelligent technology and engineering. All in all, the vehicle body appears powerful but defined by engineering, and conveys dynamic sportiness.
“We will also offer off-road test drives in the SUV area with our highly successful GLC, our luxurious GLE and GLE Coupé, the new GLS – our “S-Class” of SUVs – and last but not least, our legendary G-Class. Customers and patrons who participate in the off-road test drives will have the opportunity to experience these luxury off-road vehicles as they make the best of every terrain,” confirms Govender.
“On the handling track we will demonstrate technological advancements in the new E-Class that enable comfortable, safe driving on a new level plus a new dimension in driver assistance,” he adds.
The E-Class comes complete with infotainment and control systems offering an all-new experience. Focus will also be on an entirely newly developed diesel engine that sets efficiency benchmarks in this segment, in conjunction with lightweight construction and optimum aerodynamic figures. An optional new multi-chamber air suspension system additionally ensures outstanding ride comfort together with first-class driving dynamics.
“All in all, the sum total of its innovations makes the E-Class the most intelligent sedan in the executive class,” expands Govender.
As customer requirements increase, Mercedes-Benz is now offering its most advanced hybrid technology in the C-Class. The dynamism and efficiency of the C 350 e sedan makes it a convincing proposition in its segment.
“A first for the Mercedes-Benz East London plant is the manufacture of this C 350 e with the latest PLUG-IN-HYBRID technology for both local and export markets. The addition of the manufacture of the C 350 e sedan at our award-winning plant to exacting world-class standards, is a proud moment for us. This model will proudly take its place in the display area on the main stand,” remarks Govender.
With a range of 31 kilometres in purely electric mode, local emission-free driving is now a reality. The C 350 e’s four-cylinder petrol engine, in conjunction with a powerful electric motor, gives it a total system output of 205 kW and torque of 600 Nm. It delivers the performance of a sports car and yet offers certified consumption figures of just 2.1 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres. This corresponds to CO2 emissions of 65 grams per kilometre.
“The smart brand appeals equally to the heart and mind. An expressive design idiom and colouring embody pure “joie de vivre”. The compact proportions and clever details testify unique functionality. The new smart fortwo and the new smart forfour are clearly recognisable as members of the same family. Many design features such as the headlamps, the cooling air grille in the front and the iconic tridion safety cell are identical. In addition, both vehicles are fitted with rear engines, making them particularly agile in city traffic,” continues Govender.
Patrons will have the opportunity of test driving and getting a first-hand glimpse into a smart world of advanced assistance systems that were previously the reserve of higher classes of vehicle. These include crosswind assist (standard), forward collision warning (option) and Lane Keeping Assist (option). smart offers customers safety features that go far beyond what is the norm for this segment and further enhance safety and comfort.
“Opening up new customer groups and segments with these phenomenal products will raise the company’s profile and with our digital offering, we will boost our customer interaction. The new performance and sports models from Mercedes-AMG represents a convincing proposition for our customers as we remain true to our brand claim of “Driving Performance”, concludes Govender.
