Stuttgart, Jun 25, 2014 - 59 kW (80 hp) signified a quantum leap in 1974: The five-cylinder diesel engine on board the Mercedes-Benz 240 D 3.0 produced such an output, making the model series 115, commonly known as the “Stroke/8”, the torquiest and fastest diesel-powered passenger car in the world. The diesel engine combined strong driving power with impressive economy. At the same time, the 240 D 3.0 was the first series-production car with a five-cylinder engine.

Stuttgart, Mar 26, 2012 - In 1998, Mercedes-Benz showed a realistic vision of the future of driving; a vehicle with neither pedals nor steering wheel in the cockpit: a research vehicle based on the R 129 series (1989 to 2001) of the SL model series that was instead controlled by means of side-sticks, in a manner similar to the system used for the first time in the 1996 F 200 Imagination research vehicle.

Stuttgart, Mar 26, 2012 - The 300 SL with chassis number 0011/52 was a very special car in the history of the SL. Developed for the 1953 racing season, it did not see action because Mercedes-Benz decided to return to Formula 1 racing from 1954 on. This made the “carpenter’s plane” – as the vehicle was affectionately dubbed by the research engineers because of its characteristic front section – an intermediate model on the way to the 300 SL (W 198 I series) production sports car that was launched in 1954.

Stuttgart, Apr 12, 2011 - “The ultimate driving experience”, proclaimed the brochure on the first automatic transmission developed in-house by Mercedes-Benz back in 1961. Several years of intensive development work went into the four-speed automatic clutch which was premiered in April 1961 as an optional extra for the 220 SEb model of the 111 series. The automatic transmission even featured as standard in the Mercedes-Benz 300 SE which was presented in August 1961.