Around 376,000 sedans, 64,000 estates, and more than 110,000 coupes and convertibles have been sold to date. As a result, a total of about 550,000 customers have bought a vehicle of the E-Class family. The sedan was launched in March 2009, followed two months later by the coupe in May and by the estate in November. The E-Class family has been complete since the introduction of the convertible in March 2010.
Sales in the E-Class segment put on further at the beginning of the second quarter. Sales have increased by a total of 13 percent since January, to 107,278 units (63,517 sedans and 12,553 estates). Sales of the E-Class convertible are continuing to grow very dynamically, increasing more than fourfold (plus 229 percent) from the previous year. The E-Class convertible and the coupe thus defended their market leadership worldwide.
The E-Class sedan is the market leader in its comparative class in the U.S., which is also the vehicle’s largest market, accounting for around 20 percent of global sales. The second-largest market is China, followed by Germany. The largest market for the E-Class estate is Germany. The coupe and convertible models are most frequently bought by customers in the U.S., with Germany and the UK being other major markets for these vehicles.
The predecessor of the current E-Class was also successful worldwide, and a total of 1.6 million sedans and estates of the 211 series were delivered to customers in the years after the vehicle was introduced on the market in 2002.
A benchmark for efficiency, safety, and economy
More than ever before, new gasoline engines and an optimized powertrain have made the Mercedes-Benz E-Class the benchmark for efficiency in its segment in 2011. All of the car’s gasoline and diesel engines are now equipped with direct injection. Other features that help to reduce fuel consumption by up to 20 percent include the standard-fitted ECO start-stop function and the optimized 7G-TRONIC PLUS seven-speed automatic transmission, which is now also available for the four-cylinder engine variants. The automatic transmission versions of the E 220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY (125 kW/170 hp) and E 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY (150 kW/204 hp) consume only 4.9 – 5.3 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers in the NEDC and emit 129 – 138 grams of CO2 per kilometer. This makes the E 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY the most efficient upper-range diesel model for its output rating.
An internationally unparalleled combination of state-of-the-art assistance and protection systems make the E-Class the trendsetter in the field of safety. Around a dozen different assistance systems are available to customers, including the standard-fitted ATTENTION ASSIST system, which monitors more than 70 parameters to determine a driver’s level of concentration, enabling it to warn the motorist in time if he or she is suffering from fatigue. Just as unique is the optional Adaptive High-Beam Assist.
The E-Class also scores well among customers when it comes to value: It was declared the “2011 Value Champion” as a result of an assessment carried out by Auto Bild magazine and EurotaxSchwacke. According to the residual value forecasts of the market researchers, a four-year-old E-Class vehicle will have the lowest loss of value in the upper-range segment.
The Unimog U 20 is especially suitable for fire protection due to its compact dimensions (wheelbase 2.7 m, vehicle width 2.15 m and – in this case – a vehicle length of 5.50 m and height of 2.90 m) as well as a turning circle of 12.6 m which is similar to that of a car. This is extremely positive when driving along narrow forest trails or turning and manoeuvring at very close quarters. In any case, the Unimog also has outstanding off-road mobility: permanent four-wheel drive, portal axles securing high ground clearance, differential locks on both axles as well as a lockable longitudinal differential.
Speedy operations even over the most difficult terrain
Great angles of approach and departure with 30 degrees at the rear and 27 degrees at the front allow the Unimog to get quickly to where it is needed even over very difficult off-road conditions. In addition, the modules forming the body are so placed that the weight is ideally distributed on the vehicle which has a maximum weight of 9.3 t. The water tank with enough capacity for 2000 litres of water is positioned directly behind the cab, and the technical firefighting equipment is fitted behind it. It has been equipped with special tyres suitable for both on-road and off-road conditions. The four cylinder in-line engine of the Unimog U 20 gives a perfomance of 110 kW (150 hp) . The transmission with its eight forward and six reverse gears is especially suitable for crawling at low speeds off-road as well as for "pump and roll" operations, i.e. extinguishing fires while driving. As an option, the Unimog U 20 is also available with a powerful 130 kW (177 hp) engine. Its modern cab makes the fire crew’s (1/2) work easier with its comfortable fitttings and cleverly-devised ergonomic design.
Making the most of the water
The body manufacturer Gimaex-Schmitz has equipped the firefighting tank vehicle 10/20-1 with its renowned One Seven ®compressed air foam system. It is capable of turning the 2000 litres of water carried into a total of 14,000 litres of extinguishing agent, one very important aspect when considering the problematic water supply available for forest fires. The system uses compressed air to add a foaming agent to the water to create seven bubbles of foam from one drop of water. One great advantage of this system is that large quantities of extinguishing agent can be transported by a compact and light vehicle. The burning objects are deeply penetrated by the extinguishing agent so that they are well-soaked. During forest fires, firefighting crews are often confronted with fires smouldering under the surface. The pump driven by the vehicle’s engine has a rated output of 1000 l/min at 10 bar. The extinguishing agent is sprayed through two rapid intervention reels with a maximum range of 40 m. A front winch with a maximum traction of 5400 kg rounds off the equipment.
Unimog with firefighting tradition
Using Unimog vehicles for firefighting has a long tradition. All over the world, Unimog vehicles with outstanding off-road capabilities such as product ranges U 4000, U 5000 and implement carriers U 300/U 400/U 500 and the Unimog U 20 are to be found as faithful and time-tried helpers, not just fighting forest fires, but also used for fire prevention in opencast mining, industrial plants, at airports and on rails.
60 years jubilee for Mercedes-Benz Unimog
The Unimog is celebrating two great jubilees this year: Exactly 60 years ago, to be exact on 3 June 1951, the first Mercedes-Benz Unimog rolled off the line in Gaggenau, and in December 2010 the 10,000th vehicle of product range U 300/U 400/U 500 rolled off the line in the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth. At the time a unique vehicle concept was created with outstanding off-road mobility due to its four-wheel drive and fast-driving features for on-road conditions. Since then, the Unimog has not only proved its value for winter services, in caring for green areas as well as for various horticultural and landscape gardening activities, but also for fighting forest fires, planting trees, digging ditches, drilling holes in the ground or even for shunting work on rails or disaster intervention over impassable terrain.
