MERCEDES-BENZ AT THE NORTH AMERICAN AUTO SHOW 2007

At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Mercedes-Benz presented its broad range of all-wheel drive cars and SUVs on a 7,250 sq. ft. (570 sq. meter ice rink). This year's show celebrates two important centennials: the 100th anniversary of the Detroit Auto Show, as well as the 100th anniversary of the first all-wheel drive Mercedes automobile. Other highlights of the Mercedes-Benz press conference included the S-Class with the latest 4MATIC all-wheel drive technology and the V8-powered "Vision GL 420 BLUETEC" SUV concept vehicle, with which the luxury brand continues its initiative for clean diesels in the USA. As a high-point, the red carpet was rolled out for the striking Concept Ocean Drive – a convertible that revives the tradition of four dour luxury cars with an open top.

"A hundred years after introducing our first automobile with four-wheel drive, we offer one of the largest ranges of four-wheel drive passenger cars and SUVs on the market: 48 models in seven model series," explained Dr. Dieter Zetsche, CEO of DaimlerChrysler AG and head of the Mercedes Car Group, at the kick-off of the Mercedes-Benz press conference. The new star of the four-wheel drive line-up from Stuttgart is the S-Class 4MATIC, the first model to be equipped with the high-tech fourth generation of the Mercedes-Benz four-wheel drive system. The new 4MATIC combines agility, comfort and enhanced traction with considerably reduced fuel consumption which is roughly (0.1 gallons / 0.4 liters) more than that of a comparable model with rear-wheel drive. This is partly due to a significant reduction of the model's additional weight, which ranges between merely 145 to 154 lbs. (66-70 kg.), depending on the type of engine. That's approximately 77 lbs. (35 kg.) less than its predecessor or competing systems.

Mercedes-Benz four-wheel drive models also include the GL-Class, which was introduced last year and has established itself in the USA as one of the three best-sellers in the luxury full-size SUV segment. The leading U.S. automobile magazine, "Motor Trend," named it the "SUV of the Year 2007."