car2go (when could this be coming to Ottawa?)

Vancouver, British Columbia, is the first Canadian city selected to launch the car2go innovative mobility service.car2go Canada Ltd is a newly created company which is a subsidiary of Daimler North America Corporation, which will also be located in Vancouver.

car2go was first launched in Ulm, Germany, three years ago, it was successfully rolled out a year later in North America in Austin, Texas. To date, a total of more than 35,000 customers have joined the car2go program in Ulm and Austin. There have been more than 600,000 fully automated rental transactions, averaging between 10 and 60 minutes. car2go was also recently introduced in Hamburg, Germany, and becomes operational in Amsterdam in the Netherlands at the end of 2011. As a city whose mandate is to become the world’s greenest city by 2020, Vancouver was a natural choice for the expansion of car2go in North America.   Read more: www.benzinsider.com 

Mercedes-Benz Wins Top Spot for Women-Preferred Car Brands

Ladies in the fast lane.

Which car brands do women really prefer? Check out stats here from an annual report, which shows the top auto brands as rated by women’s dealership reviews. Which car brand wins the top spot for female drivers?

Twice each year, Women-Drivers.com releases the results from its semi-annual report showing the “top auto brands as rated by women’s dealership reviews.”

In fact, Women-Drivers.com says its company tracks thousands of consumer reviews with regards to women’s purchasing, browsing and service experiences. Women-Drivers.com is a consumer review website, which connects women and families to women-friendly car dealerships by showcasing dealers in a respective zip code radius with the highest scores.

How does the study work? Women-Drivers.com says individual dealerships’ are scored with a proprietary Women Satisfaction Index (WSI) with data coming from audited consumer reviews.

In fact, Women-Drivers.com says women now account for over half of all car purchases. However, they influence and initiate almost 80 percent of car sales.

“Car manufacturers and dealerships that highly engage and support women during the purchase process are placing themselves in a strong position to convert more browsers to buyers,” says Women-Drivers.com president Anne Fleming. “The top performing brands are clearly doing a great job with customer engagement.”

WSI® scores, which go from 1.0 at the bottom of the scale to 5.0 at the top, are placed into the four categories: overall, purchasing, browsing, and service.

Interestingly, Mercedes-Benz won the top spot in all but one category (service). Some other surprising winners were Dodge, Chrysler, Lexus, Acura and BMW. Unfortunately, other top auto brands like Ford, Toyota, Honda, GM and Volkswagen didn’t fare so well with women.

Top 10 Overall Women Preferred Brands

1. Mercedes-Benz: 4.68
2. Jeep: 4.41
3. Lexus: 4.37
4. BMW: 4.36
5. Chrysler: 4.35
6. Acura: 4.19
7. Honda: 4.18
8. Buick: 4.15
9. Dodge: 4.13
10. Nissan: 4.11

For more info please visit.

http://www.autotropolis.com/driving-smart/mercedes-benz-top-women-preferred-car-brands.html

Lewis Hamilton: MacLaren Mercedes wins the Chinese Grant Prix

 Lewis Hamilton, after suffering a terrible defeat in Malaysia, bounced back with a bang at the Chinese Grand Prix. This was a very good win for McLaren-Mercedes. Teammate Jenson Button was at fourth place behind the Red Bulls of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.Nico Rosberg rode momentum from his strong finish at the previous race by getting fifth place and Michael Schumacher was able to finish in the points at eight place. 

Check the domination of Mercedes-Benz: Hamilton first, Button fourth, Rosberg fifth and Schumacher eighth.

Well done guys !!.We are looking forward at the possibility of ending the dominance by Red Bull so that Mercedes-Benz may once again dominate and set the pace at every level i.e at Formula 1, Luxury Brand level  and Truck level.

Cross-Border Car Shopping: USA Vs Canada.

Are Mercedes-Benz cars any cheaper in the USA or its a question of less suspecting Canadians being seduced by a mirage?


The loonie once again reached & surpassed parity with the U.S. dollar and detonated a fierce rumbling thunder of hive of activities from discerning Canadian Car Shoppers as they flock to the USA where cars are supposedly cheaper.


The culture of getting the value for one's buck seems to be the dominating and guiding principle in most of Canadian shoppers. However, my observations on a Mercedes-Benz car are that most Canadian customers are following a mirage and sooner than later they will realise that they are far away from getting value for their hard earned money. If anything most of them are losing huge sums of money.


Well, being a Mercedes-Benz Sales Consultant, I could easily be written off, but check this out!


By simply visiting Mercedes-Benz USA (MB USA) 
www.mbusa.com you would see a 2011 E350 Sedan's Manufacturer's Selling Recommended Price(MSRP) listed at US$49 400.00 Vs CN$62 900.00. By just looking at this, most consumers will quickly decide to buy from the USA on the pretext of saving $13 500.00 Wow! Who would not want to save this kind of money?


But when you begin to build the USA car that's when you start to see a different story emerging. The following features are Standard Equipment on a Canadian car, while they are options you have to pay for in the USA.

• 4matic/all wheel drive is $2500 in the USA.
• Parktronic with parking guidance $970
• Split folding seats $440
• Ipod integration kit $265
• Heated seats
• Adaptive high-beam assist
• LED daytime running lights
• Heated headlamp washing system
• Bi-Xenon headlamps with active illumination

This is just but to name a few, the list is long.

NB. Mercedes-Benz Canada does not allow importation of new vehicles from the USA. 

The following importation costs will then apply:

• 6.1% duty (except ML,R & GL Class because they are made in the USA)
• 13% HST
• $500 MB Canada admin fees/registration fees
• $500 Dealer admin fees
• Conversion fees could range from $1000 to as much as $8000 depending on the model.
• No extended warranty on the imported car.
• When you want to sell a used USA car in Canada take off 20% of what a local car is fetching.

There you are folks. You calculate all this and its easy to see that you will be well beyond the $62900 MSRP in Canada.

For more information, please contact Frankie Meki at Ogilvie Mercedes-Benz, mekismerc@gmail.com or 613 745 9000.

2011 BMW X3 (XDrive) Vs 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK Class (350 4matic)

Comparing cars is always going to be difficult  but here is my take.

The GLK 350 Class successfully combines luxury, sophistication, power and performance at a reasonable price.

The well crafted GLK 350 Class ranks right up there with the most powerful crossovers in the market.The GLK350 boasts a 268-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 and is mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission, which gives the driver an unparalleled fluent smooth drive devoid of any gear shift shocks. The GLK350 Class is available in all-wheel drive affectionately referred to as 4MATIC. Its a joy to drive this car in winter as it transfers power on a 55/45 split from the rear to the front. GLK  has a leading maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.


 The 2011 BMW X3 has been fully redesigned for the first time since its debut in 2004

The 2011 BMW X3 boasts changes inside and out; from the height and weight to mechanical and interior upgrades.  The X3 is powered by two new engines: a 240-horsepower, 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder, and a 300-horsepower, turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six.  Both are mated to an eight-speed transmission with auto-manual mode and all-wheel drive is now standard. The xDrive system normally sends 60 percent of the torque to the rear wheels for a balanced, rear-wheel-drive feel, and can change the amount of power sent to the front or rear wheels based on driving conditions.  

Comparizon Tit Bits.

Cost 
There are a lot of factors to consider when calculating the overall cost of a vehicle. The main consideration is Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP). The BMW X3 is somewhat more expensive than the Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class. Another consideration is the Destination Charge, which is a standard charge for transporting the vehicle to the dealer from where it's built. Both the BMW X3 and the Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class have similar Destination Charges.

Dimensions 
Since the BMW X3 is much wider than the Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class, finding a wide enough spot in a parking lot may be a bit more challenging. For some people, bigger is better. If that's the case for you, then you'll be happier with the BMW X3, which is slightly longer than the Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class.

Drivetrain 
With its lower torque engine, the BMW X3 doesn't do as good a job transmitting power to its wheels as the Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class.

Handling 
The BMW X3 has a larger turning radius than the Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class, making it slightly more difficult to maneuver in and out of tight spots.

Incomparable Safety on the GLK

In the event of an accident, the integrated safety concept provides a high level of occupant protection. Numerous components are carefully coordinated so as to minimize the risk of injury including the standard  8 airbags of which 5 will protect the driver. On the GLK, these include:

• High-strength passenger cell with 67% of high-strength low-alloy (HSLA)/ultra high-strength alloy (UHSLA) steel construction
• 
  
• Three-point seat belts at all 5 seats, including inertia-reel ETR tensioners and belt force limiters for the front seats and the outer seats in the rear
• 
  
• NECK-PRO head restraints for the front seats to help reduce the chance of whiplash injuries
•  
• Air Bags. Driver and front passenger airbags with two-stage, adaptive deployment function
• Front side airbags front (rear side airbags can only be ordered as a special order item, this will then give yo a total of 10 airbags) Head protection curtain airbags that cover the side windows from the A-pillar to the C-pillar
• Crash-responsive emergency lighting (4-way hazard lighting and interior lighting comes on when vehicle is involved in a serious accident and ETR unit or airbag is deployed) 
• 
  
• ARAMIS airbag deploy system features crash sensors to sense impacts and g-force throughout the vehicle's structure for precise deployment of the airbags and ETR/beltforce limiter function of the seatbelts (front seatbelts and rear outboard seatbelts)
• 
  
• Crash sensors included in the ARAMIS system include:  two front crash sensors inboard of each front headlamp, a crash sensor in each B-pillar, a crash sensor in each front door, a rollover sensor and a main crash sensor in the transmission console area.

Design statement: The strongly expressive, angular SUV design and the interior with its high-class details and       emphasis on modern interior styling, the latest telematics NTG4 technology, individuality and the highest quality.

• Outstanding traction: The latest 4MATIC 4th generation with 4ETS/4ESP and the PRE-LOCK function from 0-20 km/h makes the GLK superior on the road in all-weather performance.
• Impressive driving behaviour: AGILITY CONTROL suspension with Selective Damping system and direct 2.8 turns lock-to-lock steering system allow the GLK 350 to have a high degree of ride comfort and handle well in any cornering situation.
• 
  
• Very spacious: Seating comfort with standard 10-way power front seats, good headroom front and rear and the overall space available make the GLK a comfortable long-distance SUV.
• 
  
• Powerful when transporting goods: 7G-TRONIC 7-speed automatic transmission, high 3,500 lb towing capacity and best-in-class 1,435 lb payload make the GLK 350 an ideal towing vehicle.
• 
  
• Advanced telematics: NTG4 telematics generation with optional MNP-COMAND Navigation Package including 7" screen HDD Navigation and speech-optimized LINGUATRONIC offers state-of-the art convenience at the touch of the COMAND controller wheel.
• 
  
• Innovative safety: Comprehensive equipment including 6 airbags (addtional rear side airbags available as a special request option), dual-stage beltfoceHSLA and UHLSA steel monocoque chassis construction for superior strength and protection in all accident situations.

2012 C Class Coupe

The new 2012 C63 AMG Coupe designed by Mercedes-AMG combines distinctive design with a powerful drivetrain and dynamic handling. The new coupe joins the successful C63 AMG Sedan as well as the AMG family of coupes which includes the CLS63 AMG and the CL63AMG. The new coupe makes its U.S. showroom debut in September 2011.
The AMG 6.3-liter V8 engine in the C63 AMG Coupe delivers a maximum output of 451 hp and peak torque of 443 lb-ft. Reflecting its outstanding performance, the coupe is capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph (electronically limited). With these specifications, the new two-door vehicle is poised to take the lead in its segment.

The new coupe shares all the technology updates from the 2012 C63 AMG Sedan and features the AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission with standard “Controlled Efficiency” mode, and a new power steering pump that helps to reduce fuel consumption. (http://www.benzinsider.com/)

C Class 2012 Facelift: Bringing an E Class into the C Class. A bit more info!!

More updates to come later!

Who would have fathomed that after having come up with such a state of the art winner, Mercedes-Benz would come up with such an aggressive offering in a mid-term facelift? Mercedes-Benz entered 2011 as the Number One Luxury Brand in Canada for the first time in over two decades after having last held the Crown in 1990. They wrestled the crown from BMW, arguably as a result of the well received redesigned C Class launched in the fall of 2007 (in Canada)

Now they have done it again. When all eyes were on the redesigned BMW and the ever improving AUDI, Mercedes-Benz had a few shots in their sleeve. The game is on and we will again see by numbers which car will carry the crown. Why numbers? because they do not lie.

The 2012 Mercedes Benz C-Class has been revealed with a new four-cylinder engine added to the range. The new models will have a minor facelift and the interior is upgraded as well. Performance-wise it offers more power and better fuel economy than its predecessor.

The front end gets minor changes such as a redesigned bumper featuring day-time running LEDs.  The hood is now completely made of aluminium for weight reduction purposes. Add to that the new 7-speed automatic transmission and direct-injection engines, the fuel economy has improved.

Along with fuel efficiency, it gets more juice, with the C350 3.5-litre V6 engine getting a boost of 34 hp to 302 hp and torque increasing to 370 Nm. The new turbocharged 1.8-litre 4-cylinder engine offered in the C250 will have 201 hp and the C300 gets a 3.0-litre V6 engine producing about 228 hp. The C180 will get a 1.8-litre 4-cylinder, good for 154 hp.

The interior has been upgraded with more premium materials and five new safety features have been added. This includes Attention Assist, Adaptive Highbeam Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Parktronic and Blind Spot Assist.

http://www.drivearabia.com/news/2010/12/26/mercedes-benz-c-class-2012  By Marouf Hussain.