DaimlerChrysler’s Mercedes-Benz passenger car division recently rolled out the new A-Class in South Africa, but the Stuttgart brand has much more in store for the local market this year, including the M-Class, CLS, S-Class and various upgrades.

DaimlerChrysler’s Mercedes-Benz passenger car division recently rolled out the new A-Class in South Africa, but the Stuttgart brand has much more in store for the local market this year, including the M-Class, CLS, S-Class and various upgrades.

Speaking at DaimlerChrysler SA’s annual business results media conference, the East London-based manufacturer’s Management Board Member for Sales and Marketing, Fritz van Olst, said that the Mercedes-Benz Car Group had increased sales by 6,1 per cent to 21 479 units in 2004. He predicted that the South African new vehicle market would increase by about six per cent in 2005 and said that the Mercedes-Benz Car Group was determined to increase its market share (7,1 per cent last year) and exceed rival BMW/Mini group’s volumes for the fourth consecutive year.

The introduction of the A-Class subcompact will play a major role in Mercedes-Benz’s sales success in 2005, but there should also be additions to the C-Class, E-Class and SLK ranges.

Next month, the head-turning SLK range, which was introduced to the local market in two-litre and 3,5-litre V6 derivatives last year, will be rounded off with the introduction of the SLK 55 AMG roadster. The flagship SLK is powered by a 265 kW normally-aspirated 5,5-litre V8 engine, which delivers maximum torque of 510 N.m, and is mated with 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission controlled by the driver using gearshift buttons on the steering wheel.

With a claimed zero to 100 km/h sprint time of 4,9 seconds, the SLK 55 AMG – kitted out with the Affalterbach-based tuning division’s sports suspension, seats and body-styling, promises adrenaline rush-inducing performance with racy looks to match.

The E-Class, which was knocked off its perch as best executive car by the BMW 5-Series in CAR’s annual Top 12 feature in February, will be bolstered by the addition of E350 and E320 CDi models next month. Similarly, the recently-facelifted C-Class will be supplemented by C350 and C320 CDi models in either June or July this year.

E350 and C350 models, reportedly fitted with standard seven-speed automatic transmissions, will probably replace the 3,2-litre V6-powered E320 and C320. The new models’ 3,5-liter 24-valve V6 is the same unit as that released in the SLK last year, and uses variable cam timing.

Mercedes-Benz says the new unit’s fuel efficiency has increased 12 per cent despite the bigger displacement and improved output (200 kW at 6 000 r/min and 350 N.m of torque from 2 400 to 5 000 r/min – an improvement 40 kW and 40 N.m over the 3,2-litre unit). The new engine’s crankcase and cylinder heads made of aluminium, the pistons are iron-coated aluminium with steel connecting rods and the cylinder liners are aluminium-silicone lined.

The Stuttgart-based manufacturer claims the C350 will polish off the zero to 100 km/h dash in a sprightly 6,4 seconds.

In addition, an all-new, aluminium turbocharged 3,2-litre V6 turbodiesel (fitted with third-generation common-rail direct injection technology will do duty in both the E- and the C-Class. The engine produces 165 kW at 3 800 r/min and 510 N.m of torque from 1 600 to 2 800 r/min, sources say.

The V6 diesel is equipped with a variable nozzle turbine turbocharger that electrically adjusts the pitch of the guide vanes based on engine speed. An intercooler reduces the temperature of the compressed air, further enhancing performance.

When mated with a seven-speed automatic transmission, the C320 CDi is claimed to bolt from zero to 100 km/h in 6,9 seconds.Meanwhile, one of the biggest drawcards at last year’s Auto Africa Expo at Nasrec, the Merc