Between 1996 and 2003, Mercedes-Benz produced the Vito of the first generation.
As a more opulent and upmarket variant, the body style was also offered under the V-Klasse brand (the V-Klasse name was dropped for the second generation of the Vito). In November 2017, the eVito, an electric panel van variation utilising the W447 chassis, was released.
The EQV, with a more potent drivetrain and a larger battery than the eVito, was shown as a concept at the March 2019 Geneva Motor Show. It is an electric version of the V-Class that uses the same Vito W447 chassis.
This year, Mercedes-Benz Vans has introduced its refreshed medium-sized series with a new exterior and interior design. The series consists of the new EQV, V-Class and V-Class Marco Polo, the new eVito and Vito.
Mercedes-Benz is about to reveal a new entry-level electric vehicle, most likely in concept form, and has released a teaser with a possible debut at the next International Auto Show in Germany (2023 IAA Mobility). Additionally, it was revealed that two off-road-oriented cars will also be displayed during the event.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
The brand’s “Open Space” will be held in the Apothekenhof, where guests will be able to see all of the current and upcoming electric and electrified vehicles from all Mercedes brands, including Mercedes-AMG, G-Class, Mercedes-Maybach, and Mercedes-Benz Vans, for the first time in one place.
Pro-Net, a subsidiary of Proton, has just introduced the smart #1 into the electric vehicle (EV) market in Malaysia. The all-electric compact SUV, which is a touch bigger than the smart ForFour, is the result of a partnership between Mercedes-Benz and Geely.
The smart #1 actually made its global debut in April 2022 where during the second half of 2022, China, Europe, and the UK were some of the first places to receive it.
Prior to its launch here in Malaysia, we had the opportunity to actually test it out. The right-hand drive Premium, left-hand drive Premium (China spec) and the Brabus variant.
The design of the smart #1, which is a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely. It was designed by the Germans and is built on Geely’s modular Sustainable Electric Architecture (SEA), which also serves as the foundation for vehicles like the Lotus Eletre, Volvo EX30, and Zeekr 001.
The smart #1 will only be available as a rear-wheel-drive model, with a single motor generating 272PS and 343Nm of torque. It does 0-100km/h in 6.7 seconds and has a driving range of 440km WLTP cycle. There are three available drive modes: eco, comfort and sport. However, these are the Premium variant specs.
The Brabus variant, on the other hand, puts out 428PS and 584Nm of torque. It does 0-100km/h in just 3.9 seconds! It has dual motors providing a four-wheel drive configuration. However, due to it having this much power, the driving range is reduced to 400km. There are four available drive modes: eco, comfort, sport and Brabus. Both variants are limited to a top speed of 180km/h.
Another feature included in the Brabus trim is the engine imitation sound that plays through the speakers. A Brabus engine sound and a V8 engine sound.
In addition, the Brabus variant has three additional trims to choose from: Pure+, Pro+ and Premium+.
It features a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 66kWh. The 10%-80% charge time is three hours with 22kW AC charging and less than 30 minutes with 150kW DC charging.
The exterior of the smart #1 Premium variant features an active grille shutter, flat-faced 19-inch wheels, and frameless doors and has a drag coefficient of just 0.29.
The Brabus trim, however, gets twin nostrils as a styling element, a sportier front bumper, an aggressive grille, a rear spoiler, 19-inch dynamo-styled alloy wheels and a two-tone paint scheme with red accents.
The central infotainment screen, which is 12.8 inches in size regardless of which variant you choose, controls almost everything. It features Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8155 chipset, a CPU and chipset designed for the gaming industry, and its home screen is filled with graphics and information.
Unlike the variants available in China, we get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Many important features of the system are hidden in submenus; for example, turning off the system’s excessively loud fake engine noise will lead you deep into the system, while adjusting your mirrors requires tapping the screen and then repeatedly pressing the buttons on the steering wheel.
It also has a 9.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a ten-inch heads-up display, a panoramic glass roof and 13-speaker Beats sound system.
The majority of the materials are soft to the touch, especially the Alcantara swaths in the Brabus model. Also, note that Smart chose a combination of real and synthetic leather and not vegan alternatives here.
The Brabus gets a little extra on the interior as well with a black-themed interior, Alcantara/leather-wrapped steering wheel, microfiber suede seats, headrests with the Brabus logo in red stitching and alloy pedals. The booth space measures in at 323L but can be expanded to 986L while the frunk has a 15L available space.
Another neat little feature is that the front grille lights up and will follow the beat of the music that is playing in the car at the time.
The smart #1 has a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. The safety features include:
Seven airbags
Full complement of driver assistance features
Autonomous emergency braking
Adaptive Cruise Control with stop and go
Lane centring assist
Lane change assist
Lane keep assist
Blind spot monitoring
Keshy’s Driving Notes: On top of the preview session that Timothy just touched on, we also got to drive the smart #1 around the Proton test track at the Centre of Excellence in Shah Alam.
Simply put, the #1 drives like any other EV, it is silent, power delivery is instantaneous and there’s pretty much nothing that truly makes it stand out from the rest.
Except for the fact that the #1 has a steering feel that I really like.
EV’s tend to feel dull and disconnect the driver from what happens at ground level with the tyres. But in the #1, there’s a good feel for what the tyres were doing, and the steering wheel feels chatty. And this gave me the confidence I needed to barge into the oval track (which goes up to a 20 degree banking, NASCAR like) at about 110-120km/h.
I have to say that this is one of the my favourite EV’s at the moment, but not only from a driving perspective.
But before I tell you about what else I like about the #1, I have to say that the Brabus model feels like a proper rocket. But that artificial sound it makes is a little too fake, and too loud. So loud, that it reaches a point where it started to hurt my ear drums. And I wasn’t the only one complaining about it. Good thing that it can be turned off.
So onto what I like about it. I like it’s size.
I believe EV’s should be small because EV’s are meant to be practical urban commuters. And the #1 is exactly that. It is perfectly sized. Slightly bigger than a MINI, perhaps about the size of a Countryman. Inside, there’s a lot of hints of Mercedes-Benz, such as the buttons, but we are not allowed to tell you much about the interior due to an ongoing embargo.
So if you are considering an EV, I would tell you to wait until smart Malaysia introduces the pricing because the #1 could just be the EV for you. It is for me at least.
Following the recent introduction of the new Mercedes GLC and GLC Coupe, the German carmaker today unveiled the AMG versions of those two SUVs. The 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC43 and the 2025 GLC63 S E Performance are two of the GLC’s most powerful variants to date.
Mercedes-AMG-GLC43
The GLC43, which combines a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine with an integrated starter generator to create 416 horsepower, continues to be the “base” AMG of the group. The starting generator offers an extra 13 horsepower while operating at lower speeds.
Mercedes-Benz rarely introduces a brand-new model. However, they go all out when they do. The C-Class coupe and E-Class coupe are set to be replaced by the 2024 CLE-Class in the premium midsize segment, which is gradually shrinking.
The CLE Coupe is significantly larger than the C-Class coupe, at 191 inches long, 73.2 inches wide, and 56.2 inches tall. Although it is a spiritual successor to both models, Mercedes-Benz clearly wants to reduce the number of cars in its lineup.
Exterior
In addition to being in line with the usual Mercedes design language, it has typical coupe features which are the long bonnet embedded in the front end with two power domes, the steeply sloping windscreen and the long, sloping roof towards the rear.
Its front appearance, which has more angular headlamps and strong grille sections, is interestingly more similar to the less expensive CLA-Class than either the C- or E-Class sedans. The attached rear taillight bar reminds us of the company’s all-electric EQ products. Well, at least this design resembles an actual car rather than it looking like an egg with four wheels.
Applications are now being accepted for the 2023 Advanced Modern Apprenticeship programme at Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Training Academy. The programme provides a platform for young Malaysians who want to work for one of the most prominent firms in the world as passenger car technicians.
Since 1984, the Training Academy of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has produced over 900 apprentices who are currently employed in a variety of jobs and specialisations within the brand’s approved dealer network. Since 2017, the programme has had 500 candidates on average yearly.
Mercedes is aware that not all customers desire an SUV. It has not only added an estate version to the most recent C-Class, but it is also preserving the long-roof E-Class for at least another generation.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate models have been a consistent success for estate cars in the higher mid-range and luxury class since they first debuted in 1977. The latest model in this range of sporty space sensations, the E-Class Estate from model series 214, is the seventh generation.
Its wheelbase has been stretched by 22 mm to 2961 mm for additional legroom while the width has increased by 28 mm to 1880 mm for greater elbow room. Length is up by 4 mm to 4949 mm and height has slightly increased by 1 mm to 1469 mm.
This is considerably the biggest of the three Mercedes wagons and is even larger than its predecessor.
With a variety of turbo-diesel and Wankel rotary engines installed, the Mercedes-Benz C111 prototypes from the 1960s and 1970s served as test beds for cutting-edge powertrain technologies. Currently, as the automobile industry transitions from internal combustion engines to electric power, Mercedes has introduced the Vision One-Eleven concept, which, like its ancestor, serves as a forecast for how the company will adapt to the changing automotive scene.
The initial C111 prototype, which was painted a striking shade of orange and equipped with dramatic gullwing doors, is clearly where the sleek supercar styling of the Vision One-Eleven got its start. The concept’s single line, shallow curve profile is reminiscent of the cab-forward aerodynamics of Mercedes’s existing EV models, such as the EQS and EQE.
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has unveiled the updated A-Class family with a facelifted appearance and the latest iteration of the MBUX Infotainment system.
The A 200 Progressive Line, A 250 4MATIC AMG Line, and AMG A 35 4MATIC are the three locally built variations of the A-Class saloon that are still available. The top-of-the-line Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4MATIC+ is still offered as a Hatchback in a limited number of units as AMG Street Style Edition.
The renowned roadster classic of Mercedes-AMG, the new, special Mercedes-AMG SL 43, has been unveiled by Mercedes-Benz Malaysia today with a sportier and more opulent appearance.
The SL has undergone a transition over the course of its 70-year development history from a thoroughbred racing car to an open-top luxury sports car, and this represents another significant turning point for the brand.
It is the first car in the world with an electronic exhaust gas turbocharger. This technique, which originated in Formula 1, resolves the trade-off between a big supercharger with high peak power but slow response and a compact supercharger with a fast response but relatively low peak power.
