Mercedes-Benz

Innovation, Technology, Mobility: These are the structural pillars of the Daimler magazine TECHNICITY. On this basis we have relaunched a completely revamped new online presentation of TECHNICITY. The conceptual, graphic and technical realisation gives the website, which has been developed to cater for absolutely every user device, a modern and dynamic character. The flexible content structure has an integrated multifilter which presents the "content stream" on a topic-specific basis. These innovative characteristics make the site equal to future requirements with respect to use-friendliness and interactivity. This future-oriented format establishes an integrated print-online communication model whose online function provides its international readership with current topics covering urban mobility solutions, technology and innovation processes and developments from Daimler research every two weeks. At a glance The intelligently conceived website includes a responsive layout – whatever device is used to access TECHNICITY.DAIMLER.COM, the page layout is automatically adjusted to the relevant screen size and therefore ideally meets both present and future requirements. Whether articles, news, videos or surveys – all formats are chronologically arranged at a glance in the content stream. Useful feature: In the topic clusters "Clean", "Safe", "Connected", "Urban" and "Visionary", the extensive contents can be filtered individually and by topic using the open and flexible navigation structure. Moreover, a multiple filtering function makes "personalised reading" possible. About TECHNICITY TECHNICITY combines important perspectives and trends from the Daimler research and development locations with topics not specific to the company. Urban mobility solutions, corporate technology and innovation processes as well as creativity and innovation trends in science, research and development are placed in a global context. An international network of acclaimed scientific journalists reports for TECHNICITY on trends and innovations from the major cities and high-growth regions of the world. TECHNICITY – the magazine for innovation, technology and mobility – supplementing TECHNICITY.DAIMLER.COM as a print version with three annual editions in English and German. Credits: Daimler AG Copyright © 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

With the combined power of more than 1400 hp, Mercedes-Benz is taking to the starting grid of Gran Turismo® 6 with three of its latest models. All set to provide pure excitement and fascination in the new version of the gaming classic for the PlayStation®3 are three high-performance vehicles from AMG: the SLS AMG GT3 producing over 367 kW (more than 500 hp), the E 63 AMG producing 410 kW (557 hp) and the A 45 AMG producing 265 kW (360 hp). In addition to the three new vehicles, no fewer than 21 further vehicles from Mercedes-Benz which featured in Gran Turismo® 5 will also be taking to the track to set the pulses of gaming fans racing. Gran Turismo® 6 will be celebrating its market launch this holiday season. Details of the game were announced yesterday by Kazunori Yamauchi, Producer and Game Director of Polyphony Digital Inc., on the occasion of the celebrations to mark the 15th anniversary of the popular Gran Turismo® series at Silverstone in England. "Together with Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. and Polyphony Digital, we are delighted with the unique success which Gran Turismo® has enjoyed over the last 15 years", said Anders Sundt Jensen, Head of Brand Communications for Mercedes-Benz Cars. "We are particularly proud that three of the latest models from our high-performance AMG brand are all celebrating their digital premiere in the latest version of the legendary game series. Mercedes-Benz and Gran Turismo® have a number of things in common. Above all, they share the same vision: to provide their customers – whether in real life or in the virtual world – with the ultimate in driving pleasure." Globally the PlayStation® 3 racing game has so far sold more than 70 million copies, with version 5 alone being enjoyed by more than ten million gaming fans since November 2010. Mercedes-Benz can look back over a long and successful history as part of this race series. Models from the star brand have been represented in the game since the market launch of Gran Turismo® 2 back in 1999/2000. According to Anders Sundt Jensen: "Both Carl Benz in 1886 and Kazunori Yamauchi, the inventor of Gran Turismo® in 1998 recognised that a car can do more than just take us from A to B. Both lived the automotive dream. Driving a Mercedes or playing Gran Turismo® each therefore reflects a unique experience: unprecedented driving pleasure." Anniversary wishes from Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz prepared a very special surprise for the guests at the anniversary celebrations in Silverstone. They were able to experience the breathtaking driving performance of the SLS AMG GT3 both live on the race track, courtesy of professional racing driver and AMG Driving Academy instructor Jan Seyffarth, as well as in the virtual world of the games console. The two other AMG models from the game were also on hand for onlookers to admire. The anniversary celebrations were rounded off with an exclusive shuttle service for guests. ~ Official photos and details courtesy of Mercedes-AMG GmbH ~ Copyright © 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Once again, Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG are supporting the Cannes Film Festival with a wide range of activities. Twelve high-performance models from Mercedes-AMG will be adding to the glamour along the Croisette between 15 and 26 May 2013. They are there to provide an exclusive shuttle service, for spur-of-the-moment test drives and as display vehicles. One particularly special star will, in addition, be putting in a sparkling appearance in front of the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc: the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class which, in a parallel event to the opening of the Film Festival, yesterday celebrated its world premiere Hamburg. The new luxury saloon, which includes such features as a hot-stone ENERGIZING massage function and individual perfume atomisation, will be making its debut on the Côte d‘Azur at the legendary Cinema Against AIDS gala evening in aid of the amfAR foundation, to be held on 23 May at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. Mercedes-Benz is a Signature Sponsor of this star-studded gala, considered one of the most prestigious events held during the Film Festival. As well as the new S-Class, Mercedes-AMG will be presenting the world's most powerful electric super sports car in the grounds of the hotel - the SLS AMG Coupé Electric Drive. And ensuring that guests arrive in style at the red carpet will be a shuttle service provided by Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG. Exclusive shuttle services and test drives with AMG vehicles Each day of the Film Festival, the shuttle vehicles will carry celebrity guests and visitors to "Le Club by Albane" at the Hotel JW Marriott and to the Boulevard de la Croisette for film shoots for the daily show "Le Grand Journal" on French TV channel Canal+, and from there to the red carpet outside the "Palais du Festival". Attracting attention outside the Hotel InterContinental Carlton, directly on the Croisette, will be a display incorporating the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupé Black Series. A vast LED wall behind the vehicle will share special impressions of the world of AMG with visitors. And last, but not least, Mercedes-AMG will be offering individual test drives for guests and visitors on each day of the Festival. Participants will be able to take the wheel of one of a range of current AMG models and experience for themselves the AMG brand claim of "Driving Performance" along the twisting coast roads of the Côte d‘Azur. From 15 to 26 May, daily between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., anyone interested can sign up for a test drive outside the Hotel 3.14. Credits: Daimler AG Copyright © 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

HI - I'm Barb and I am new here and looking for some help. I just purchased a 2003 CLK 320 and when i click the remote to unlock the door - it flips the lock up and down super fast 4 or 5 times in rapid succession and usually I have to click the remote 3 or 4 times before it will unlock my car. Any idea what that might be causeing this and what is might cost to fix?

The tortuous streets of Monte Carlo provide the next challenge for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes on the 2013 Formula One calendar. The Principality’s 3.3km circuit is the shortest and slowest of the season, but it’s also one of the most demanding for man and machine. McLaren has won the Monaco Grand Prix 15 times - more than any other constructor. The track layout has remained largely unchanged since its inaugural World Championship race in 1950. The inclusion of Armco barriers in 1969 made it considerably safer for competitors and spectators, but the challenge of the race is still as tough as ever. The smallest error can result in a driver’s race ending in the barrier and more than 4,000 gear-changes during the 78-lap race make technical excellence a pre-requisite. Pirelli will bring their soft and super-soft rubber to the race. Both compounds have been used already this season (the super-soft in Australia, the soft in China), but this is the first time they have been raced together as the prime and option tyres. The low-grip nature of Monaco’s asphalt, combined with the circuit’s average speed of just 160km/h, means tyre wear shouldn’t be as big a factor as it was in the Spanish Grand Prix last time out. Jenson Button won the race from pole position in 2009, and both he and Checo are aiming to finish in the points this year. Fast facts: Monte Carlo Circuit - Race distance: 78 laps (260.520km/161.887 miles) - Start time: 14:00 (local)/12:00 (GMT) - Circuit length: 3.340km/2.075 miles - 2012 winner: Mark Webber (Red Bull RB8) 78 laps in 1hr46m06.557s 147.312km/h) - 2012 pole: Mark Webber (Red Bull RB8) 1m14.381s 161.654km/h) - Lap record: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari F2004) 1m14.439s (161.528km/h) McLaren at the Monaco Grand Prix - Wins: 15 (1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008) - Poles: 11 (1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2007) - Fastest laps: 10 (1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007) Car 5: Jenson Button - Age: 33 (January 19 1980) - GPs: 233 - Wins: 15 - Poles: 8 - FLs: 8 “Monaco is unlike any other racetrack in Formula One. A qualifying lap around there is an exhilarating experience for a driver: you turn into corners on the limit and you kiss every barrier at the exit. To get pole position, as I did in 2009, is hugely satisfying and you need to be inch-perfect for 78 laps in order to win the race. It’s a great challenge. “The average speed around Monaco is the slowest of the year, but it feels very quick. The track’s quite narrow in places and there are some fast sections. The run up the hill from Ste Devote to Casino Square involves some quick changes of direction, as does the Swimming Pool, and the Tunnel is fast, loud and dark. “Everyone at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has been working flat-out since the Spanish Grand Prix. We’re not yet where we want to be in terms of competitiveness, but I’m confident that we can make another small step forward in Monaco. We’ll continue to chip away at the performance of the MP4-28 until it’s capable of challenging at the front; there’s no other agenda for a winning team like McLaren. The aim for Monaco is to get both cars home in the points, as we did in Barcelona.” Car 6: Sergio Perez - Age: 23 (January 26 1990) - GPs: 42 - Wins: 0 - Poles: 0 - FLs: 2 “Monaco is a great challenge for the drivers. It’s the only circuit on the calendar where you have to build up your speed during practice, rather than going flat-out on lap one. You push a little bit harder with every lap, getting a bit closer to the barriers each time. “But it’s not just the track that makes Monaco special; it’s the atmosphere as well. The grandstands are closer to the track here than anywhere else on the calendar and that gives us a very close connection to the spectators. The huge grandstand between Tabac and the Swimming Pool can get pretty noisy when it

Formula One´s most famous race, the Monaco Grand Prix, takes place around the streets of the principality on Sunday 26 May for the 71st time. • Just three of the past 30 Monaco Grands Prix have been won by a car starting outside the top three • The race has a very high 80% risk of Safety Car intervention with a total of 14 Safety Car periods in the past ten years • Last year´s race featured just 25 pit stops for tyres, the second lowest figure of the entire season (after Austin, 24 stops) • Only three DRS overtakes took place at the last three races combined, and 21 competitive non-DRS passes Nico Rosberg “Monaco is always a fantastic weekend and it´s great to race in the city where I live. Knowing that all my family and friends are watching makes it very special and I love being able to drive from home into the paddock on a scooter! The surroundings definitely make Monaco the coolest track on the calendar and the atmosphere over the weekend is great. I have good memories from the race last year after finishing in second place and I hope we can get another good result this time around. At the moment we have a good car for qualifying which helps in Monaco as it´s the most important qualifying session of the year as track position is so important. So that might be helpful for us but there are so many unknowns, especially with the tyres, so we will just have to wait and see.” Lewis Hamilton “Whilst there hasn´t been a lot of time since Barcelona, we´ve been working hard to put the disappointment of the last race behind us and focus on the opportunities ahead. Monaco is one of my favourite races of the year and I love driving the streets there. As a driver, you know that you have to perform on every single lap and it´s a challenge that I really enjoy. It´s a real experience to see the barriers flashing past at high speed and I love the fact that the fans can get so close to the track making for a great atmosphere. Perhaps more than at many other tracks, qualifying and getting the best possible track position is crucial in Monaco, but we have to keep our focus on Sunday as well and keep working to improve our race pace. Everyone is working really hard and I know we can get there. We just need to keep motivated and work it out together.” Ross Brawn “Monaco is a not usually a race to which teams bring many updates because the track conditions change so much across the weekend. The priority is always to get the drivers comfortable with the unique challenge the circuit presents and to give them a set-up they feel confident pushing to the limit. Both Nico and Lewis have historically been incredibly competitive in Monaco and this weekend will certainly allow their talent to shine. The engineering team will be focused on getting the most from our car on the slow, bumpy layout and there will of course be particular emphasis on achieving tyre consistency and durability. Meanwhile, our work continues back at Brackley and Brixworth to fully understand the reasons for our below-par race performance in Barcelona, in order to develop the right solutions for the upcoming circuits where high tyre usage could once again be a limitation for us.” Toto Wolff “Monaco is the most famous race in our sport and a special moment of every Formula One season. The narrow streets will give our drivers the perfect opportunity to display their talents and, historically, the team´s cars have performed strongly there in terms of pure speed. However, it is clear to everybody in the team that, while we have a strong car right now, we are not able to use that performance properly on Sunday afternoon. Although overtaking in Monaco is difficult, we cannot afford to be complacent in terms of tyre management and we will need to do significantly better than we managed in Barcelona in order to score a strong result. We have only scored points with one of our cars at the past three races and this is something we must improve quickly

The DTM travels to England for the second race of the year, just a fortnight after the Hockenheim season-opener. Mercedes-Benz DTM driver Gary Paffett (EURONICS Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) will be contesting his home fixture at Brands Hatch that he won last year. The circuit: The historic British Brands Hatch circuit will host the DTM next weekend for the eighth time. Racing will take place on the Indy Circuit, which at 1.929km is currently the shortest track on the DTM calendar and features four right-hand and two left-hand turns. At the fastest point on the start/finish straight, DTM cars reach a top speed of over 225km/h. The Brands Hatch DTM race is run over 98 laps, the highest lap total of any race this season. Celebrity guests at Mercedes-Benz: The two British Formula 1 drivers Paul Di Resta (Sahara Force India Mercedes, winner of DTM races at Brands Hatch in 2009 and 2010 and DTM champion with Mercedes-Benz in 2010), and Jenson Button (Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, Formula 1 World Champion 2009 – powered by Mercedes-Benz) will guest in turn with the Mercedes AMG DTM team on the Saturday (Di Resta) and Sunday (Button) at Brands Hatch. Paul and Jenson will take passengers around the track in the DTM racing taxi and sign autographs for fans. Comments about the DTM race at Brands Hatch Christian Vietoris (24, Germany, DTM Mercedes AMG C?Coupé): - was on podium for first time in the DTM at Hockenheim season-opener - achieved a podium in the 2009 Formula 3 Euro Series at Brands Hatch “Brands Hatch is a great track that I really like. The first turn is, to my mind, one of the Indy Circuit’s special challenges. A lap at Brands Hatch is extremely short, so the slightest mistake is punished immediately. This is especially true in qualifying, and last season, only 0.081 seconds separated the top five drivers in Q3. Me and Martin Tomczyk in fourth and fifth place posted the same time – 41.101 seconds. I achieved my lap time first and consequently progressed further in the quali to secure second place, my best position on the grid in the DTM. After a good start to the season with my maiden DTM podium at Hockenheim, I’m feeling twice as confident in the run-up to Brands Hatch.” Gary Paffett (32, England, EURONICS Mercedes AMG C?Coupé): - won his home race at Brands Hatch last year - 2013 marks his tenth season in the DTM “My home win last year at Brands Hatch was one of the most wonderful victories in my DTM career. Winning the race in front of the home fans and many of my friends was a fantastic feeling. My Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team-mate Jenson Button presented me with the trophy last year – so maybe it’s a good omen that my lucky charm Jenson is our guest again at Brands Hatch this weekend. The track itself is a lot of fun and yet at the same time can be a real challenge for drivers. Paddock Hill Bend is one of the best turns that you could ever hope to encounter in a racing car – it’s just incredible. The characteristics of the track are very different as compared to the season-opener at Hockenheim, and I wonder how the new option tyres will shape up under these circumstances and how they will affect the course of the race. I was on the front row of the grid each time in the last two races at Brands Hatch, so hopefully, I can build on that success again this year and fight for victory once more.” Roberto Merhi (22, Spain, THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C?Coupé): - finished in the points for first time at Hockenheim season-opener - had second fastest pit stop of the race in Hockenheim “The season-opener at Hockenheim had its ups and downs as far as I’m concerned: I made a mess of qualifying but followed that with my first points-scoring result in the DTM. I would like to pick up a top position both in qualifying and in the race at Brands Hatch, but it won’t be easy, because at Brands Hatch the gaps between drivers will be even smaller than is normally the case in the DTM. During practice, I wil

Trier’s public utility company has put three new Citaro Euro VI buses into service. The urban buses equipped with Euro VI exhaust treatment technology significantly improve urban environmental quality thanks to emissions that are 80 percent lower than those of their predecessors. At the same time, the fuel expenses of the transport operator are lower because the new buses use more than 8 percent less diesel fuel. This was substantiated in the "Record Run Buses" economy run conducted in autumn 2012 under the impartial supervision of Dekra. Daimler Buses has delivered some 350 buses equipped with Euro VI exhaust treatment technology to date. By the end of 2013 more than 1700 Daimler Buses of the Mercedes-Benz and Setra brands equipped with environmentally friendly Euro VI exhaust treatment technology are expected to be on the road. Milestone in bus development, economic efficiency was top development priority To comply with the Euro VI emission standards, the buses are equipped with complex exhaust treatment technology. They combine the customary Mercedes-Benz SCR technology of AdBlue injection and oxidation catalyst with exhaust gas recirculation and a closed particulate filter. The completely new engine generation and the complex exhaust treatment technology have reduced emissions to the very margin of detectability and thus represent another step in the advancement of diesel technology. Credits: Daimler AG Copyright © 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

A week prior to the start of the legendary 24 Hours Nürburgring, the race gullwing cars of the different AMG Customer Teams continue to be on the course of success. The second race weekend of the ADAC GT Masters took place in Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium. In the first race on Saturday, 11st May, 2013, Maximilian Götz and Maximilian Buhk (both GER) of Polarweiss Racing crossed the finish line second. Their team colleagues Andreas Simonsen (SWE) and Sergey Afanasiev (RUS) ended the race fourth. In the second race on Sunday, 12th May, 2013, both SLS AMG GT3 of Polarweiss Racing won the same positions as already on Saturday – once again, a pleasing second position. The driver duo Götz/Buhk started from the second position and took over the lead already in the first turn, claiming the first position for a long time. A few minutes prior to the end of the race on a drying track, the SLS AMG GT3 was pushed away from its competitors to the second place. In the championship, Götz/Bukh managed to win the sixth position, while their team colleagues Simonsen/Afanasiev won the fourth position. In the team ranking, Polarweiss Racing won the first position. Podium position in International GT Open in Portimão/Portugal The second round of the International GT Open was held in Portimão/Portugal. Jan Seyffarth (GER) and Miguel Toril (ESP) from Seyffarth Motorsport ended the race on Saturday, 11st May, 2013 on the sixth overall position and on position three in the GTS category. In the second race on Sunday, 12th May, 2013, Seyffarth/Toril won the 14th overall position after a tyre failure and position nine in the GTS category. Lead in the Polish GT Championship Piotr Krawczyk and his SLS AMG GT3 continue to be the leaders of the Polish GT Championship. In the FIA CEZ race on the Austrian Red Bull Ring, the driver of the AMG Customer Team Premium Motorsport Poland came home second on Saturday. A remarkable success for the leading contender in the Polish GT Championship, who had his first race on the track near Spielberg – in addition, on a wet track. In the race on Sunday, Piotr Krawczyk crossed the finish line fourth. Seven SLS AMG GT3 in 24 Hours Nürburgring One of the highlights of the season for the AMG Customer Sports Programme takes place on Whit weekend. Seven SLS AMG GT3 will be entered into the 41st ADAC Zurich 24 Hours Nürburgring: Black Falcon enters three cars while ROWE RACING even enters four. All of the race gullwing cars start in the SP 9 class. Due to their good results in the first VLN (Veranstaltergemeinschaft Langstreckenpokal Nürburgring) races, start numbers 22 and 23 from ROWE RACING are already admitted for the top-40 qualifying. As already in 2012, Bernd Schneider and Thomas Jäger will support the customer teams as part of the AMG Support Program and will also actively take part in the race. Lance David Arnold will have his first race as AMG driver this year. An overview of AMG Customer Teams in the 24-hour race: - Start number 9, Black Falcon: Bernd Schneider (GER), Jeroen Bleekemolen (NED), Sean Edwards (GBR), Nicki Thiim (DEN) - Start number 10, Black Falcon: Andrii Lebed (UKR), Andreas Simonsen (SWE), Dennis Rostek (GER), Hari Proczyk (AUT) - Start number 63, Black Falcon: Vimal Mehta (IND), Kaled al Qubaisi (UAE), Daniel Keilwitz, Christian Bracke (both GER) - Start number 21, ROWE RACING: Marko Hartung, Kenneth Heyer, Roland Rehfeld, Christan Hohenadel (all GER) - Start number 22, ROWE RACING: Klaus Graf, Thomas Jäger, Jan Seyffarth, Nico Bastian (all GER) - Start number 23, ROWE RACING: Lance David Arnold, Alexander Roloff, Jan Seyffarth, Thomas Jäger (all GER) - Start number 125, ROWE RACING: Michael Zehe, Reinhold Renger, Marko Hartung (all GER), Mark Bullit (USA) Ola Källenius, chairman of the board, Mercedes-AMG GmbH: “All employees of Mercedes-AMG are very proud of the fact that the AMG Customer Teams Black Falcon and ROWE RACING enter seven SLS AMG GT3 altoget

“Mercedes-Benz dream cars” is a combined concept for the Stuttgart-based manufacturer’s sales and marketing activities around its coupé, cabrio and roadster model series. The campaign is currently being rolled out in its core markets. The dream cars include the new E-Class coupe and cabrio models, the SLK and SL sports cars, the CL as well as the CLS and the CLS Shooting Brake. Selected classics such as the SL Pagoda or the SE Coupé round off the portfolio of the Mercedes-Benz dream cars. “We have always made automotive dreams come true. ‘Mercedes-Benz dream cars’ is intended to underline this as a new umbrella term,” says Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Mercedes-Benz Cars Sales and Marketing. “Those models in particular are what make the Mercedes-Benz brand so exciting.” Approximately 133,000 of these dream cars were sold worldwide in 2012. The aim is to increase model sales further during 2013. The E-Class cabrio and coupe are set to play an important role when they take to Europe's roads from 1 June 2013 onwards. Adaptable communication activities around the globe Advertising and marketing tools featuring a standard design, and which can be used in various different ways worldwide, are to be stepped up. Markets will have access to a “dream car toolbox” containing print visuals and moving image material. There are also dealer communication modules and event guidelines to assist dealers in implementing point-of-sale events. This gives all markets the flexibility to respond to their specific target audience. In Germany, the print ads will run from mid-May 2013. A concurrent radio campaign starring the E-Class cabrio and coupe will invite listeners to “dream car weeks”. Special formats like the 2014 Mercedes-Benz calendar will also be entirely dedicated to the dream car theme. Long-term, this extensive package of activities will not only ensure that the dream cars fully live up to driver expectations, but also contribute to the Mercedes-Benz 2020 growth strategy. Rising demand for dream cars In Germany, the E-Class coupe and cabrio have proved to be the most popular vehicles in their segments for the third time in succession. Demand in the UK and the United States – the biggest sales market – is even greater than in the home German market. Worldwide, some 75,000 customers have opted for an E-Class cabrio since the market launch of the current model series in 2010. Meanwhile, more than 132,000 units of the coupe version have been sold since it was unveiled in 2009. The majority of both cabrio and coupe customers select a paint finish in obsidian black. Diamond white metallic is the second most popular colour. When it comes to optional extras, customers value entertainment and comfort above all: around two-thirds of customers choose the COMAND multimedia system and more than four-fifths order AIRSCARF neck-level heating for their E-Class Cabrio. In the roadster segment the Mercedes-Benz SLK was the global segment leader last year, with 31,800 new cars sold. Most SLKs in 2012 went to owners in Germany, followed by the UK and the United States. Besides the PARKTRONIC system ordered by 90 percent of customers, the most popular extra equipment include AIRSCARF neck-level heating and a navigation and entertainment system. Furthermore, over four-fifths of SLK buyers opted for leather equipment in black. The top paint colour choices for the SLK are tenorite grey, palladium silver and iridium silver. Now in its sixth generation, the iconic Mercedes-Benz SL sports car continues to be as popular as ever. From the current model series 10,700 units were sold in 2012, three times as many as in the previous year. The SL’s history dates back 60 years to the 300 SL racing sports car of 1952. Today, one in every two SL models goes to an owner in the United States. Germany and Japan are other major sales markets. Proving that no other vehicle in its class unites sportiness and comfort like the SL, the vehicl