10 September 1959 – 65 years ago

Mercedes-Benz launches systematic crash tests for safety research

    Realistic evaluation of passive safety solutions with accident tests
    The head-on crash of a four-cylinder saloon of the W 110 series makes the start
    Modern crash tests depict more detailed scenarios

Accident simulations under reproducible conditions can be used to reliably evaluate solutions for passive automotive safety. In 1958, Mercedes-Benz therefore decides that, in future, crash tests with complete vehicles will play an important role in addition to calculations and the evaluation of real accidents. The premiere is on 10 September 1959: A pre-series vehicle of the forthcoming 110 series is subjected to a frontal collision with a stationary obstacle. At this time, the world’s first passenger car with a safety body is already on the market, the luxury class saloon of the W 111 model series (see next section). Crash tests with this vehicle confirm the effectiveness of the safety body for all occupants. Mercedes-Benz is constantly developing its crash test methods. In 2016, today’s Technology Center for Vehicle Safety opens in Sindelfingen, which can also carry out very complex crash tests. Mercedes-Benz shows an offset crash test between two electric cars in October 2023 (media.mercedes-benz.com/article/3ebae1fd-f3ac-4b81-a39e-727b4d4f93a0). About half a year later, Mercedes-Benz is the first car manufacturer in the world to X-ray a crash test, thus rendering all processes in the vehicle structures and dummies visible (media.mercedes-benz.com/article/6b76ca06-9ece-4bfe-8c28-fe40e727a29e).
17 to 27 September 1959 – 65 years ago

“Fintail” luxury class saloons of the Mercedes-Benz W 111 model series have their premiere

    First sedan with a safety body based on the Barényi patent
    Bearing bars at the rear give the series the colloquial name “fintail”
    Grand appearance of the S-Class predecessor at the IAA in September

At the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt am Main from 17 to 27 September 1959, the Mercedes-Benz six-cylinder saloons 220, 220 S and 220 SE of the 111 series celebrate their public debut. This generation of the S-Class tradition is a milestone for passive safety: the world’s first automobile based on the principle of a safety body with a rigid passenger cell and front and rear zones that can be deformed in the event of a collision (“crumple zones”). The safety body is developed and patented in 1951 by Béla Barényi, Mercedes-Benz engineer and pioneer of passive safety. A particularly striking design detail are the bearing bars at the rear. They have given the W 111 and W 112 series (from 1961) the colloquial name “fintail”. By 1967, a total of 337,659 units of the W 111 series have been produced. It is also successful in motorsport rallies, endurance races and on the circuit.
26 November to 8 December 1984 – 40 years ago

Press presentation of the Mercedes-Benz 124 model series in Seville

    Technical and aesthetic milestone in the history of the E-Class
    The sedan is followed by the Estate, Coupé and Cabriolet
    Start with four-, five- and six-cylinder engines

Big stage for the new generation of the upper mid-size class from Mercedes-Benz: In Seville, Spain, the completely newly designed 124 series is presented to the international press at the end of 1984. In December 1984, the sedans are launched on the market, initially with four-, five- and six-cylinder engines. The 124 series has parallels to the W 201 compact class. This concerns the use of high-strength steel sheets and other weight-reducing materials, the further improvement of passive safety, the aerodynamic optimization of the body and the design. The press kit describes the design as a “slightly wedge-shaped body with strikingly smooth surfaces and rounded edges, flush glued front and rear windows and an optimised design of the rear”. The innovative panoramic windscreen wiper for the windscreen enables the world’s largest wiper field of a passenger car at the time. The 124 series becomes a multifaceted success story. In addition to the saloons, it includes the Estate (from 1985), Coupé (from 1987) and Cabriolet (from 1991) as well as chassis for special bodies. From 1993 onwards, the model series bears the name E-Class.
5 to 14 December 1924 – 100 years ago

In Berlin, Mercedes presents supercharged models of the international luxury class

    Top models developed by Ferdinand Porsche in the tradition of Paul Daimler
    Popular with social and political celebrities
    Debut at the 16th German Motor Show in Berlin on Kaiserdamm

In 1924, Ferdinand Porsche succeeds Paul Daimler as Member of the Board of Management for Development at Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG). The assignment of the engineer coming from Austro-Daimler according to the ideas of the Supervisory Board and Board of Management: “He is to shape the future of the Mercedes brand with high-quality utility cars”. Initially, however, Porsche designs two high-performance representative vehicles in the international luxury class for DMG with a six-cylinder engine and supercharger in the tradition of Paul Daimler. The Mercedes 15/70/100 hp (3,920 cc engine) and Mercedes 24/100/140 hp (6,240 cc engine) models premiere at the German Motor Show in Berlin in December 1924. Mercedes offers these types in various sporty and representative body variants. They are popular with customers who are social and political celebrities, among others, and are among the forerunners of the Nürburg 460, or the type “S”. The sporting successes of the Mercedes 24/100/140 hp with a 6.3-litre engine play an important role. They pave the way for the unique success story of the supercharged sports cars of the Mercedes-Benz S series until 1932.
Mercedes-Benz Classic Genuine Parts

Keeping the brand’s classics ready for use in authentic condition

    Currently 160,000 parts for 57 model series
    Every year, 20,000 Mercedes stars are sold
    In focus: Spare parts for the Mercedes-Benz 111 and 124 series

From the “fintail” saloons of the 111 series to the first E-Class generation of the 124 series: Mercedes-Benz Classic Genuine Parts offers an extensive range of spare and wear parts for the brand’s classic automobiles. This service stands for the highest quality and originality down to the last detail and also for short delivery times. Only the manufacturer itself can offer such a high-quality service. With this service, Mercedes-Benz Heritage GmbH makes a significant contribution to keeping the brand’s classic cars ready for use in authentic condition in the long term. Some parts for the types presented in this newsletter: For the W 111 “fintail” saloons available are for example the Mercedes star (part number A 180 888 01 09, price 82.41 euros), the radiator grille (part number A 111 888 50 15, price 1,129.88 euros) and the hub pad for the steering wheel (part number A 115 464 03 42, price 210.39 euros). And for the 124 series, among other things: the switch for fan adjustment (part number A 124 820 23 10, price 124.32 euros), the lower and upper part for the antenna seal (part numbers lower and upper part A 124 827 07 98 7C45 and A 124 827 08 98 7C45, prices 22.61 euros and 17.61 euros respectively) and the parts kit for the coupling (part number A 124 250 04 01 80, price 296.31 euros). All prices stated are recommended retail prices for Germany and include 19 percent VAT. In total, there are more than 160,000 part items for 57 model series. Mercedes-Benz Classic has 42 different versions of the Mercedes star alone on offer and sells almost 20,000 of them every year. Many of the Mercedes-Benz Classic Genuine Parts can be delivered to 170 countries worldwide within 24 hours.
Link: teilesuche.mercedes-benz-classic.com
Birthday

    80 years ago: Jürgen E. Schrempp was born on 15 September 1944 in Freiburg im Breisgau. An apprenticeship at Mercedes-Benz as an automotive mechanic was followed by an engineering degree. From 1989 onwards, he headed the DASA subsidiary of the former Daimler-Benz AG and became Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler-Benz AG in 1995. In 1998, together with Robert Eaton, he was appointed Chairman of the Board of Management of the newly founded DaimlerChrysler AG. At the end of 2005, Dr. Dieter Zetsche became his successor.

Record number of visitors after a particularly successful summer: On 12 September 2024, Frédéric Atoun was the 13 millionth visitor to the Mercedes-Benz Museum since it opened its doors in 2006. The visitor from Orléans, France, came together with his son Victor.

Museum Director Bettina Haussmann welcomed the guests from France. After making an entry in the Museum’s VIP visitor’s book, they were invited to take a seat in the Mercedes-Benz 500 K Spezial-Roadster from 1936, which is on display in room Legend 3: Times of Change – Diesel and Supercharger, for commemorative photos. The automobile fans had previously visited the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart. They took advantage of the attractive combined ticket offer.

“Much sooner than we expected, we’ve broken the 13 million visitor mark – a great milestone for the Museum. I’m very pleased that our museum concept and the charisma of the brand continue to attract people from all over the world to Stuttgart and inspire them.”
Bettina Haussmann, Director of Mercedes-Benz Museum
International appeal

People from all over the world have visited the Mercedes-Benz Museum. During the summer months, almost 16 percent more visitors than in the same period of 2023 came to the Museum. The proportion of international visitors to the Museum was around 65 percent in summer 2024 – a number which was enhanced by people visiting Stuttgart to enjoy the European football championship 2024. Most of the foreign visitors came from France and China.

The Mercedes-Benz Museum makes the history of mobility come alive – from the invention of the automobile in 1886 and into the future. Within its unique architecture, the Museum’s permanent exhibition comprises 160 vehicles and a total of 1,500 other exhibits. Numerous in-house events also make the Museum a cultural centre in Stuttgart.

As part of the Formula 1™ Singapore Grand Prix, Mercedes‑AMG is presenting the highly exclusive GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+ “Motorsport Collectors Edition“ (combined energy consumption: 14.0 l/100 km | combined CO₂ emissions: 319 g/km | CO₂ class: G)[1]. With numerous individual design elements and equipment details, it creates a close link to the Mercedes‑AMG PETRONAS F1 Team. Even the base obsidian black metallic colour is inspired by the team's current Formula 1™ racing car. The same applies to the hand-painted star pattern with silver Mercedes stars on the rear flanks and the filigree, PETRONAS-coloured decorative stripes. These extend from the front fenders over the belt line to the roof. There are also further PETRONAS-coloured contrasts: these can be seen on the front splitter, on the flics of the side air intakes of the front apron, on the decorative elements in the side sill panels and on the rear diffuser attachment.

The 21‑inch AMG forged wheels with a matte black finish and cross-spoke design are accentuated with PETRONAS-coloured rim flanges. The brake callipers of the standard AMG ceramic high-performance composite brake system with six-piston fixed callipers at the front and one-piston floating callipers at the rear are also the same colour. The front axle is fitted with 420 millimetre brake discs. The “Motorsport Collectors Edition” rides on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R Cup tyres as standard. Their dimensions are 295/30 ZR 21 at the front and 305/30 ZR 21 at the rear.

The standard AMG Exterior Carbon Fibre package, with its front splitter, trim strips in the side sills and diffuser and rear wing in high-quality carbon fibre, emphasises the proximity to motorsport. The scope of equipment also includes the panoramic glass roof and the AMG Aerodynamics package with a fixed rear wing on the tailgate. The AMG Night Package II reinforces the individual visual appearance of the “Motorsport Collectors Edition”. It comprises elements in black chrome, including radiator trim, typography and Mercedes star at the rear. The AMG fuel filler cap in silver chrome with “AMG” lettering also emphasises the special status of the edition.
PETRONAS-coloured details also found in the interior

The interior is also characterised by numerous PETRONAS-coloured details. The standard AMG Performance seats are upholstered in black Nappa leather/MICROCUT microfibre with PETRONAS-coloured topstitching and embossed AMG crests in the head restraints. The AMG trim elements in carbon harmonise with the heated AMG Performance steering wheel in MICROCUT leather/microfibre with PETRONAS-coloured topstitching. This stitching can also be found on the door trim panels, the instrument panel and the centre console. The AMG door-sill trims are coated in black and illuminated in the colour of PETRONAS.

The Burmester High End3D Surround Sound System, with 15 loudspeakers and 1,170 watts of system power, is standard in this very extensively equipped special model. There is also the 360o camera, MBUX Interior Assistant, Driver Assistance Package and head-up display. AMG TRACK PACE provides support with a wealth of data when driving on the racetrack. A system to raise the front axle can be used to lift the front of the vehicle prior to crossing speed bumps or kerbs. The ambient lighting and the ENERGIZING package contribute to a sense of well-being on long journeys. The “‘1 out of 200” edition badge in the centre console indicates the limited edition of the special model.

To protect this valuable edition from theft and vandalism, the model is equipped with GUARD 360o vehicle monitoring. Each customer also receives a customised, edition-specific AMG indoor car cover. With its breathable outer skin made of tear-resistant synthetic fibre fabric and an antistatic inner fabric made of flannel, it protects the vehicle from dust and scratches in the garage.

The Mercedes‑AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+ as a “Motorsport Collectors Edition” is aimed at car enthusiasts and collectors who are looking for a particularly sporty driving experience and are Formula 1™ fans. 450 kW (612 hp) of power from the AMG 4.0‑litre V8 biturbo engine, aerodynamic fine-tuning with reduced lift and more powerful cooling contribute to enhanced driving dynamics.

[1]The specified values were determined according to the prescribed measurement procedure WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure). The ranges given refer to the German market. The energy consumption and CO₂ emissions of a car depend not only on the efficient use of the fuel or energy source by the car, but also on the driving style and other non-technical factors.

As the 2024 Formula One season gears up for the next series of overseas ‘flyaway’ races, the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team is pleased to confirm that we are on track to quadruple our aviation emissions reduction by the end of 2025 through investment in Sustainable Aviation Fuel certificates (SAFc).

Building on the announcement that the team more than doubled aviation emissions reduction through SAFc purchase in 2023, achieving a reduction of 6,695 tCO₂e for business travel emissions, our investment in SAFc underscores our commitment to become one of the world’s most sustainable global professional sports teams.

In 2022, the team became the first global sports team to invest in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) through book and claim and direct refinery capacity. The increased implementation of book and claim announced today means we are set to quadruple annual aviation carbon emission reductions through SAFc use in 2025 compared to 2022.1 

In concrete terms, this means we are expecting to reduce our aviation emissions through SAFc purchase by a total of 18,500 tCO₂e across 2024 and 2025, with 8,000 tCO₂e saved in 2024 and 10,500 tCO₂e saved in 2025.
Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team

“A net reduction in our emissions sits at the heart of our operations and the ambitious sustainability targets we have set ourselves. We continue to invest in innovative solutions and technology that will enhance our performance, helping us go further faster.”

From 2022 to 2025, we are targeting emissions reductions of over 27,500 tonnes of carbon through our investment in SAFc, quadrupling our annual aviation emissions reduction since our original SAF investment. This reflects our commitment to understanding and addressing our environmental impact, while also supporting the growth and credibility of the SAF certificate market. We aim to showcase the potential and impact of SAF, encouraging others to adopt SAFc and drive further investment in this growing market.
Alice Ashpitel, Head of Sustainability, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team

“Our investment in Sustainable Aviation Fuel is more than a strategy; we believe it can create a greener future. We see SAFc as a game-changer, a way for sports and businesses to make a lasting impact. We hope that our support for this sector can help trigger others to do the same and drive further investment in SAF production. We have been hugely grateful for the support of our suppliers SkyNRG and British Airways who have helped us realise our ambition to mitigate one of the most significant sources of our emissions and look forward to engaging the wider industry sector in the future.”

Sustainable Fuels will change the face of Formula One in 2026 but they are already one of the cornerstones of our sustainability strategy.

During the 2023 European Season, we saved 339 tCO₂e through a switch to HVO biofuels for land freight and on-site at the European race venues. This year we have targeted 100% biofueled logistics for all nine races in the 2024 European season, with the results due to be reported in the coming weeks.

Our team has ambitious targets for 2030 including a 75% reduction in Race Team Control emissions and 100% reduction of Scope 1 & 2 emissions.

Find out more about our team’s commitment to sustainability here.

1 Current and forecast SAFc reductions are taken from the data provided by the team’s SAFc suppliers. This compares the Well-to-Wake life cycle assessments of our book and claim SAFc purchase compared to the same volume of jet fuel. The mass balance approach of the book and claim system used in 2022 and 2023 was independently verified by a third party and confirmed there were no instances of non-conformities identified. We report using the guidelines outlined in Clean Skies for Tomorrow Coalition’s ‘SAF Certificate (SAFc) Emissions Accounting and Reporting Guidelines’ to demonstrate the emissions reductions achieved with SAFc purchase.
Notes:
Sustainable Aviation Fuel Investment

In 2022, the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team became the first global sports team to invest in Sustainable Aviation Fuel, marking a significant stride in our sustainability journey. This investment represents a dual strategy, focusing on the acquisition of book and claim certificates to support market growth, and simultaneously enhancing refinery capacity to boost SAF production. This investment was a part of the team’s broader strategy to slash CO₂ emissions and achieve Race Team Control Net Zero by 2030.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Sustainable Aviation Fuels are renewable or waste-derived aviation fuels that can replace traditional fossil jet fuel. Due to their drop in nature and much lower life cycle emissions than traditional aviation fuel, they are acknowledged by the International Civil Aviation Organisation as a key technology in diminishing future aviation emissions.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel Certificates

SAFc are an accounting instrument that allows the environmental benefits of SAF to be decoupled from the physical fuel, through a book and claim model. This allows the physical fuel to be delivered to the nearest airport (reducing the emissions impact of long-distance transport) and the emissions reductions to be claimed by the SAFc buyer.

SAFc is recognised as a key mechanism in the transition to Net Zero to help send demand signals to the market to increase production of sustainable fuels. The team’s SAFc purchase will address their indirect Scope 3 aviation emissions and will be accounted for using best practice accounting standards set out in the in Clean Skies for Tomorrow Coalition’s ‘SAF Certificate (SAFc) Emissions Accounting and Reporting Guidelines’ to ensure environmental integrity.

Toto Talks Singapore

We head straight to Singapore for the second race in this double header. Although a street circuit like Baku, Marina Bay is a different challenge. Physically, it is incredibly demanding on both the drivers and team members. The heat and humidity play a big role in that but so does the track itself. It is bumpy in places, contains a mixture of both low and high speed corners, and the walls are waiting to catch you out.

After a mixed weekend in Azerbaijan, we will take the learnings from Baku and aim for an improved performance in Singapore. At times, our pace was strong but we couldn't deliver that consistently. Our main challenge was controlling tyre temperatures and something we know we need to improve upon. It is encouraging that, when we get the car working, we have the pace to be competitive. Whilst we came away with a podium though, we know that it was fortuitous and we were P5 on merit.

We have additional motivation heading into this weekend too. Singapore has become a key race for our Title and Technical Partner PETRONAS in recent seasons, as the closest event to Malaysia. We are excited that this year we will be part of their 50th anniversary celebrations. We have enjoyed a record-breaking partnership with them since Mercedes returned to F1 as a works team in 2010. We have achieved incredible success together over the past 15 seasons and that relationship continues to grow as we push forward with our sustainability ambitions both on and off track, including the exciting work around sustainable fuels for 2026. We have several exciting moments planned as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations over the next week and look forward to sharing them with our fans.
Fact File: Singapore Grand Prix

    Last year's Singapore Grand Prix featured a new layout as redevelopment works took place in the vicinity of the track.
    The circuit between what was Turns 16 to 19 became one long 397.9m straight, reducing the number of corners from 23 down to 19.
    The circuit length was reduced from 5.063 km to 4.928 km and the number of laps of the Grand Prix increased from 61 to 62.
    Lap times were reduced by roughly 10 seconds due to the changes.
    The new layout was beneficial for the tyres; previously, they would begin to overheat towards the end of the lap, but the removal of four 90-degree corners helped them stay closer to the optimum operating window.
    Track evolution is incredibly high in Singapore, given that it is a street circuit. The surface can ramp up by as much as three seconds between FP1 on Friday and Qualifying on Saturday evening.
    The Singapore Grand Prix is one of the most physically demanding races of the season. The intense humidity, warm temperatures, combined with the stop/start nature of the track, make it very challenging.
    Due to these factors, drivers can lose around 5kg of weight during the race through sweating alone.
    That stop/start nature, with a requirement for constant re-acceleration, ensures the circuit has one of the biggest fuel effects of the year. In simple terms, that means the amount of time you lose each lap is higher for every kilogram of extra fuel in the car.
    Owing to the large amount of time spent in corners, just over 50% of lap time is spent at full throttle - only Monaco and the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico have lower amounts.
    The track is also very bumpy. That adds to the stress that the drivers and cars are put through - that is particularly true with these new generation cars that run lower to the ground.
    With a speed limit of 60 km/h, and a layout that feeds in at turn two, the total pit lane time is the highest of the season at 25 seconds.
    Marina Bay is one of four circuits on the calendar to have a 60 km/h pitlane speed limit, owing to its tight nature. The others are Melbourne, Monaco, and Zandvoort.
    Being a street track, it is perhaps no surprise that all 14 of the previous Singapore Grands Prix have featured at least one Safety Car deployment.
    In the last six editions, we have seen 11 Safety Car deployments.
    The team has achieved four wins around the streets of Marina Bay. Three times with Lewis (2014, 2017, 2018) and once with Nico Rosberg (2016).