New arrival

Locally-initiated show car

Making its world premiere at this year's Auto China in Beijing, the first China-initiated global show car from Mercedes-Benz comes with a range of local inspirations.

The concept car shows the company's dedication to the Chinese market, with input from the its China Advanced Design Studio.

The Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury blends the elegance of a sedan with the strong statement of an SUV - combining the two most successful vehicle types in China.

Providing a glimpse at the ultimate in luxury design, it fuses Chinese cultural elements and futuristic aesthetics, from its auspicious metallic red body paint to a handmade white porcelain tea set.

The tea ceremony for the rear was inspired by China's tea culture and uses the highest quality porcelain with rose gold accents. This allows a tea ceremony to be held in the backseat, highlighting the Chinese way of hospitality.

The SUV genes of the concept car provide room for a sophisticated powertrain and high ground clearance, while the sedan elements lend it a dignified presence and riding comfort. The rear seating was inspired by ancient Chinese chairs, and an integrated vase was set in between the two rear seats, where arranged magnolia flowers add a greater sense of peace and tranquility. The Chinese elements extend to the vehicle's user interface as well. Animations are based on the landscapes of Guilin, in the style of traditional water paintings and ink work.

Also making its Chinese premiere at a special Auto China pre-day event was the Mercedes Bespoke Furnishing/Maybach Collection, a potential brand extension into premium home furnishings.

All-new G-Class remains a classic

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class set the standard in off road performance, and now the G Wagen is ready to continue its success story.

The latest update to the icon premiered at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit earlier this year, and now the new G-Class is making its Chinese debut, marking another leap forward both in technology and performance.

Improving on a classic like the G-Class was certainly a challenge, given its well-deserved reputation as a automotive design icon.

The G-Class has always combined the two extremes of off-road ruggedness with interior comfort. But though its exterior has remained much the same since 1979, its interior and technical aspects have seen continual enhancements over the decades since its first launch.

The new model remains true to the G-Class blend, with its off-road reputation maintained through its off-road trinity: the ladder-type frame, three 100-percent differential locks and low-range off-road gear reduction.

On the road, though, the performance of the new G-Class has been substantially improved through its new front axle design and 9G-TRONIC transmission, which makes it both more agile and more comfortable.

What made the G-Class an icon remains: the boxy design, distinctive door handles and the characteristic door closing sound, exterior protective strip, the exposed spare, and the prominent turn indicators.

The G-Class has a justifiable reputation as the original king of off-roaders, and the forerunner of all later Mercedes-Benz SUVs.

All-new CLS reinvents four-door coupe

Making its world premiere at last year's LA Auto Show, the all-new CLS marks the third generation of the model that in 2003 created an entirely new segment - combining the dynamism of a coupe with the comfort of a sedan.

The CLS has been confirmed as a classic by withstanding the test of time, with all previous generations featuring avant-garde and elegant design concepts.

This new model demonstrates that Mercedes-Benz has the courage to lead the development of automotive design.

Mercedes-Benz builds on this foundation with the latest version of the original four-door coupe, taking the CLS and the brand's sensual purity design a step further, with sharp edges and reduced lines, while maintaining its classic, elegant beauty.

The simple lines and the more purely curved design exude a strong visual style, showing the new explorations in body design at Mercedes-Benz.

In combination with the predator-like face, the model exudes a sensual and elegant aesthetic. In addition to its innovative design, the new CLS embodies Mercedes-Benz's range of innovative technologies in terms of high power efficiency, intelligent safety, and user-friendly comfort, resulting in an extremely comfortable and convenient intelligent experience.

The new CLS shows how Mercedes-Benz is a leader of automotive design. With time, the brand's many fans will recognize the new CLS as a true classic.

(China Daily 04/25/2018 page15)