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If you’re like me, your mind occasionally wonders about some very odd things. How did somebody create the first video game? Why do we park in a driveway and drive on a parkway? Where did the German automaker get the name “Mercedes”?

As for the first two questions, I have no idea. But I can answer that last question for you right now.

Mercedes was the nickname of a young Austrian girl born in 1889. Her real name was Adriana Manuela Ramona Jellinek, and she was the daughter of automobile entrepreneur Emil Jellinek and Rachel Goggman Cenrobert. She lived her entire life in Vienna and married twice throughout her lifetime. According to Wikipedia.com, both marriages were scandalous. Unfortunately, she died of tuberculosis before the age of 40, never sharing her father’s passion for the automobile industry that now immortalizes her name.

In 1901, the Daimler Company named an entire line of vehicles after her when Jellinek commissioned a vehicle to be built. The Mercedes 35 hp was the first to have the name Mercedes bestowed upon it. It was the design brainchild of Wilhelm Maybach, an engine designer and developer of the first internal combustion engines used on the world’s first motorboat and motorcycle. This particular vehicle was created for racing, but it was also suitable for everyday road use as well.

Emil Jellinek didn’t stop at naming cars after his daughter, though. He also named his mansions and car racing team after her. To him, it was a way to commemorate his wife’s Sephardi Jewish background.

Sometimes, knowing the background of a product gives you a new appreciation for it. With Mercedes, it started with just one lonely vehicle and one loving father at the beginning of the 20th century. Today, though, you can find thousands of cars on the road with the Mercedes-Benz trademark. You can expect the same quality from the brand that made it a household name more than a century ago.

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With synthetic oil and other advancements in newer engines, many car owners are able to go from 5,000 to 7,500 miles between oil changes.

That’s right. Instead of the 3,000-mile intervals that most drivers are accustomed to, 7,500-mile intervals are quickly becoming the new standard for oil changes. With synthetic oils, there isn’t as much thermal breakdown and evaporation over time. As a result, oil changes aren’t necessary as often as they once were.

Also, drivers don’t even need to get under the hoods to check their oil levels. Instead of risking oil stains on their ties on the way to work, motorists can simply check the in-dash monitors on new models that indicate the oil quality and level in engines. The indicator works in real time according to your driving conditions so you can adjust your driving pattern for optimum efficiency.

Although drivers are excited about the new oil change intervals, dealerships aren’t as thrilled. With fewer oil changes each year, they get less service business. Whereas dealers once had their customers coming in for oil changes about three times a year, they might only see them once a year now. Some companies fear a loss of loyalty and customer retention bbecause the customers are not exposed to the dealer’s services as often.

One way that dealers can keep their customers coming in is to offer prepaid service contracts or service packages. But they can always count on the car owners that are reluctant to wait 5,000 miles before getting their oil changed. There will also always be the ones who simply don’t trust electronic sensors.

Your local Mercedes-Benz dealer has a wide selection of new vehicles with electronic sensors and other features. Stop in and get one today!

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One decade ago, Mercedes-Benz changed the way automakers think about diesel engines and the environment.

The technology that Mercedes created ten years ago introduced a new age of diesel engines. Its “common rail direct injection” or CDI technology was the first of its kind. Mercedes used it in its C-Class models and continues to use it in several models today.

The CDI engines differ from most other engines in that they have a fuel line that comprises the central pressure reservoir. As needed, fuel travels into the cylinders through solenoid valves. With the CDI technology, it’s possible to build engines that run smoothly while emitting fewer particles into the air than normal engines. CDI engines also have high torque capabilities. As a result of the Mercedes design and innovations, the CDI engines soon became the forerunner and the new standard for passenger cars with diesel engines.

Recently, Mercedes made even more advancements in the CDI technology. The automaker has been putting it in some of the more popular passenger models for this season and the upcoming car season as well. Mercedes introduced this innovation, BLUETEC, in North America in 2006. Engines with this technology use the CDI, but they burn fuel more efficiently and with fewer emissions as well. As a result, the Mercedes-Benz E 320 BLUETEC won “World Green Car of the Year” shortly after its introduction

Europe will see its first BLUETEC passenger vehicle at the end of 2007 in the E 300 model. These engines already meet and exceed the EURO V standards for pollution control, and the new regulations don’t even go into effect until September 2009.

With the number of innovations and technologies that the engineers at Mercedes-Benz continue to create, it is no wonder htat the German automaker is the leader in eco-friendly vehicles. Stop in at your local Mercedes-Benz dealer today and see the many pioneering improvements that this company has created.

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You might think that driving is a daily chore that causes stress and anxiety, but that’s not the case with some automakers.

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute are studying driver emotions to discover what makes a driving experience either enjoyable or frustrating. The institute teamed with other organizations, including Mercedes Customer Research and the Munich Technical University, to conduct a number of tests. The study involved different methods for measuring a driver’s emotions in various situations behind the wheel.

The participants drove two Mercedes-Benz vehicles for the test: its new C-Class model and a 190 E model from 1983. Eight drivers between the ages of 33 and 53 drove the vehicles at a testing site and conducted several negotiating tactics typically used during a normal day of driving. The study involved different types of terrain to simulate a complete driving experience.

During the driving tests, a recorder logged the details of each individual, including speed, acceleration and positioning.

The researchers applied American psychologist Paul Elkman’s theory that facial expressions are ideal indications of a person’s emotions. They installed cameras in the vehicles to receive a constant feed of each driver’s facial expression. The cameras collected some 60,000 individual images from each driver. Researchers then entered this data into a computer for analysis. They also asked participants a series of questions before and after the test to get an indication of what drivers feel contributes to a pleasurable driving experience.

The main goal of the study was to match drivers’ facial expressions with their emotions. Because the researchers found a strong correlation between facial expressions and feelings, this interrelationship became a new criterion for testing driver satisfaction before a new model hits the market.

Mercedes-Benz plans to continue the research. In time, driver satisfaction will be just as important as safety and comfort. It’s just another way that Mercedes strives to please its customers in every way possible.

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After producing models that meet the nation’s emissions standards, Mercedes-Benz may double the number of vehicles with diesel engines distributed to the United States

If you’re searching for a luxury vehicle with a fuel-efficient and eco-friendly diesel engine, your options may soon increase. Because the new Mercedes-Benz Bluetec technology complies with California emission standards–the toughest in the nation–the German automaker can increase its distribution for consumers in the United States.

Mercedes-Benz’s Chief Executive Officer for the U.S., Ernst Lieb, made this announcement in an interview in New York. When the increased distribution begins, the models will include the M-Class, GL-Class and R-Class.

The new announcement comes at a time when the United States (as well as the world) is trying to increase fuel efficiency through diesel engines and hybrid vehicles. The diesel share of the U.S. market will quadruple in the next ten years because automakers are responding to the demands for a cleaner environment and cars that get more miles for each gallon of fuel.

The United States, however, is trying to catch up to the increasing number of diesel engines already available on the market. The industry must first make drivers rethink the reputation of the diesel engines. They’re no longer the gas-guzzling, noisemaking engines that they once were. Carmakers must also overcome the fact that diesel fuel is not as readily available as regular fuel, another factor for its fledgling popularity in America.

Currently, five states in the nation restrict the sale of vehicles with new diesel engines because of their emissions. The Mercedes-Benz Bluetec diesel engine, however, meets and even exceeds the standards of these states, making the country an open market for the newer and cleaner technology.

You can get a luxury vehicle with one of these Bluetec diesel engines now at your local Mercedes-Benz dealer. Test-drive one today and see the difference this engine makes.

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Although some automakers are reporting slower sales in the last year, some luxury car companies have had record sales in recent months. And with their year-end holiday sales events, they are expecting even better sales figures to report for 2007.

The Mercedes Winter Sales Event is going on now and will continue until January 2, 2008. With its great savings, you can play Santa for the entire family this holiday season. One of the most prominent models you’ll see at your local Mercedes-Benz dealer is the completely redesigned 2008 C-Class. The engineers at Mercedes-Benz spent seven years designing this premiere model to get it just the way they wanted it.   With more safety features and amenities that allow drivers to fully enjoy the driving experience, these vehicles are flying off the lot. The low price tag doesn’t hurt their sales either (under $35,000).

Mercedes-Benz is also giving huge discounts on other popular models. If you’re in the market for a fuel-efficient SUV, the 2008 R350 is a crossover that provides the comfort of an SUV with the sportiness and agility that you’d expect from a luxury model. With a V6 engine and nearly 270 horsepower underneath the hood, drivers savor the power at their fingertips. Consumers can choose between an R350 with two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. Other great features include a panoramic roof for letting natural light shine in and dual-climate control for the utmost comfort of both the driver and passenger.

Spread the holiday cheer this season. See one of your local Mercedes-Benz dealers during its Winter Sales Event and see the amazing deals you can get for the car that you want.

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When the gas prices began to soar out of control a few short years ago, many people in the auto industry assumed that consumers would scale down their vehicles. They believed that drivers would give up their full-size trucks and SUVs, causing the station wagon market to be flooded with interest from new buyers.  Automakers hurried to increase production to meet the impending demand, each of them creating a unique version of a modern station wagon.

But consumers didn’t bite. Instead of an unprecedented number of station wagon purchases, sales for these models steadily declined. In fact, one company dropped its production of a station wagon model because of the decreased demand for this type of vehicle.

Enter the crossover market. Crossovers typically represent a cross between a car and an SUV, but they have a more attractive appearance than your mom and dad’s faux wood-trimmed station wagon. The new crossover models offer the luxury of driving a smaller car with the practicality and utility of a small SUV. Family members can ride together in comfort without being squeezed into the back seat.

Can you guess which luxury car company has one of the best crossovers on the market? That’s right–Mercedes-Benz. Its E-Class wagons still resemble modern-day station wagons, but the conmpany only keep a handful of these in production to satisfy loyal wagon customers. The company’s crossovers, however, are in high demand. The R-Class units provide all-wheel drive functionality with the comfort and sleek style that Mercedes is known for. It’s just more proof that the makers of Mercedes-Benz vehicles are “in tune” with what their customers want and constantly strive to maintain their superiority in the rapidly-changing auto industry.

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The word “diesel” is no longer a proverbial four-letter word. At one time in the not-so-distant past, diesel brought to mind the idea of loud roars and puffs of smoke spouting from the exhaust pipe. With recent advancements in diesel engine technology, though, consumers are beginning to see this fuel alternative in a different light.

With the new diesel technology, the once noxious and obnoxious engines use ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel that just recently became available in the U.S. According to the Clean Diesel Fuel Alliance, this new type of fuel also reduces emissions and ultimately leads to better air quality. Experts believe that by 2030, these new engines will completely replace the existing engines in heavy-duty trucks and busses, greatly reducing the amount of pollution from the atmosphere by about 90 percent.

More consumers are turning to diesels because they provide up to 40 percent better gas mileage than normal gas-powered engines. Analysts predict that the rising popularity and lower emissions of diesel-engine vehicles will cause their sales to more than triple in the next decade.

Is there any better company than Mercedes-Benz to lead the diesel revolution? The German automaker introduced four new models last year that used the cleaner diesel engines: the ML320 CDI, R320 CDI, E320 and GL320. For the next model year, consumers will find the diesel-powered engine on more Mercedes-Benz vehicles, too. The entire M-Class, R-Class and GL-Class lines will include this cleaner technology as Mercedes continues to be an example of environmental friendliness for other automakers.

Analysts say that there is still some work to do in convincing consumers of the cleanliness and efficiency of the new diesel engines. As outdated notions change, Mercedes will increase production to meet the demands of its customers. You can be a part of the diesel revolution, too. Visit your local Mercedes-Benz dealer today and get your own environmentally-friendly vehicle.

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Earlier this year, Daimler AG–the parent company of the Mercedes-Benz brand of automobiles–sold off much of its Chrysler division. Last week, though, Daimler spent more than five billion dollars to buy back nearly 50 million shares of the same Chrysler division.

According to the Associated Press at Mlive.com, the Mercedes-Benz shareholders approved the 3.48-billion euro buyback in April. The buyback so far represents nearly five percent of the 1,055.8 million shares outstanding at the start of this buyback program. Each share averaged just over $102 each, or 69.66 euros.

In August of this year, Daimler announced that its share buyback program will continue after the company’s board of management approves it in February 2008, provided that the profitability coincides with 2007’s expectations.

By the end of September 2007, Daimler had redeemed 13.235 million shares of the Chrysler division. The company plans to buy “another euro 4 billion of additional shares by the end of August 2008.” Upon completion of this year-long plan, Daimler will hold approximately 10 percent of the car maker’s overall equity.

In early October 2007, Daimler refocused its operations on its Mercedes-Benz car brand and on truck production. It continues to be a leader in truck manufacturing throughout the world, and the buyback plan, once completed, will only strengthen its hold on the entire automotive industry.

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In an effort to decrease the amount of electricity its Milton Keyes plant uses, Mercedes-Benz installed a wind turbine at one of the manufacturing facilities. Quiet Revolution, a wind energy company that specializes in creating mechanisms that generate power through the wind, made this vertical axis turbine that stands 20 meters high. The one at the Mercedes facility is one of only six in operation throughout the UK.

Mercedes-Benz is going to use the wind energy to power some of its electric cars. The luxury vehicle manufacturer installed three points next to the turbine where the cars can charge. Researchers estimate the new turbine can generate enough power for the new electric Smart forTwo models to travel about 30,000 miles each year.

According to Wilfried Steffen, president of the Mercedes-Benz UK division, the car company is “taking the lead by installing this energy-saving technology.” Steffen  also hopes to “inspire other local companies to do whatever they can to reduce their carbon footprint.” Mercedes-Benz expects the project to generate about 10 percent of this facility’s energy through natural methods, including wind energy, solar water heating and others.

Although many critics say wind turbines are simply a “green gimmick,” the device’s popularity and effectiveness is beginning to grow. Other car companies are installing these structures to reduce their emissions and carbon footprints. There are also plans to install several wind turbines outside the Houses of Parliament. This will reduce their carbon footprint by more than seven percent.

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