Techno Classica Essen March 26 - 30 2008.

VIP, Preview day March 26.

20th TECHNO-CLASSICA ESSEN from 26 to 30 March 2008:
The Classic Fair of the Superlatives

MERCEDES-BENZ

Daimler AG not only is the oldest automobile manufacturer in the world, but also the automobile company with the longest tradition and heritage, which clearly accounts for the positive image of the vehicle brand with the star. The performance of Mercedes-Benz is a tradition also at the TECHNO-CLASSICA: the company from Stuttgart is among the largest exhibitors since the first TECHNO-CLASSICA in the year 1989.

This year the history department of Mercedes-Benz with the Mercedes-Benz Museum, the Classic Center, the Classic Collection and with the vehicle trade occupies a huge exhibition space of more than 4,000 square meters in hall 1 - offering the opportunity for the 16 German Mercedes-Benz clubs which are acknowledged and supported by the factory, to attractively present themselves directly at the company exhibition stand.

Mercedes-Benz puts three main topics into the focus of its spectacular exhibition at the TECHNO-CLASSICA: topic number one is the current public relations of the new SL in connection with the historic SL. The second main focus of the elaborately designed Mercedes-Benz exhibition stand is on the issue of sustainability and efficiency - and at the same time demonstrated the cutting edge of the star brand in automotive technology. The third topic finally is the anniversary of the first long-distance trip of an automobile: 120 years ago in 1888, Bertha Benz, the wife of the automobile inventor Karl Benz, drove the approx. 100 km long distance from Mannheim to Pforzheim and back with both of her sons and unbeknown to her husband. So she proved the capability of the automobile built by Karl Benz two years before, as a means of transportation.

This first vehicle is such an important milestone in the history of man's motorisation that Mercedes-Benz presents reconstructions of the Benz invention at each entrance gate of the TECHNO-CLASSICA as an eye catcher. If all approvals are available, the Mercedes-Benz museum even plans to hold a prize draw among the visitors of the TECHNO-CLASSICA for rides on the legendary three-wheeler.

The second complex of topics from Mercedes-Benz is currently themed "Sustainability and Efficiency" and by means of significant four-cylinder engines and the appropriate automobiles from the more than 120 year old history of Mercedes-Benz automobile manufacture, describes how much Mercedes-Benz brought forward new ideas for progress in automobile construction by technical innovations - and still does.

Seven automotive milestones give proof of the cutting edge in the field of new developments by the Swabian automobile manufacturers and researchers. Among the highlights are a Mercedes Simplex of the year 1904 - the first "modern" automobile in the history of the world. In contrast to the veteran cars customary at that time, the Simplex with its four-cylinder engine, rear-wheel drive, deep-set frame and efficient cooling system already has all basic characteristics of modern automobiles.

The line of ancestors of innovative four-cylinder automobiles with the star continues with a Mercedes 6/25/40 PS of the year 1923/24. As the first compressor vehicle built in series production, it demonstrates that Daimler engineers successfully considered an increase of performance for smaller engines already in the nineteen-twenties. Further four-cylinder automobiles of the pre- and post-war period led to the Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16 - one of the first representatives of modern four-valve engines with catalytic converter of the year 1984. The bridge to the future finally is built by the research car F 700, which combines all historical and current knowledge of automobile construction - and for instance is equipped with a hybrid-electric power train. Its main item, a four-cylinder DIESOTTO engine with 1.8 litre cubic capacity and 238 HP in combination with an electro unit with 15 kW/20 HP combines the advantages of the low-emission Otto engine with the benefit in consumption of the Diesel drive.

"Before outrunning, we take a glimpse into the rear view mirror", Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Head of Daimler, wrote in his welcome foreword to the most important Mercedes-Benz classic meeting, the Mercedes-Benz Classic Days last year in Salzburg - and pointed out the fact that Mercedes-Benz always considers the past when developing new automobiles. A special presentation with a total of five generations of the Mercedes-Benz is an impressive proof for this fact: A 300 SL roadster as ancestor of the SL tradition, a 280 SL "Pagode", a 350 SL of the R 107 series and a 500 SL of the second-last generation (R 129 series) call the attention to an up-to-date SL of the 230 series, as it will be presented after modelling in March of this year. The SL-line of ancestors demonstrates the surprising transfer of the SL-genes to the particular follower generation - according to the Daimler motto: "Future requires ancestry".

In order that the Mercedes-Benz classics will remain roadworthy for the future, Daimler AG has established in the year 1993 today's Mercedes-Benz Classic Center with the objective to restore classic Mercedes-Benz vehicles and to ensure the spare part supply. Also this year the Classic-Center is represented at the TECHNO-CLASSICA in every respect: information desks on vehicle restoration, on spare parts range and activities like classic car rental or expertises demonstrate the range of services offered by the centre. Offers of classic vehicles from the vehicle trade are attracting buyers and the presentation of partner enterprises of the Classic Center completes the performance of Mercedes-Benz at the TECHNO-CLASSICA.

Finally, another cutting edge of the Daimler AG in the field of heritage is documented by the classic magazine "Mercedes-Benz Classic", the only classic magazine globally published for sale by an automobile manufacturer. Free examples are available at the information desk of the Mercedes-Benz exhibition stand.