Mercedes-Benz GST: Series Production in Tuscaloosa

CLICK4VIDEO Of Unveiling - Detroit January 2002

* Production Launch Planned for the End of 2004 * Market Launch in the USA Coincides With the Production Launch * Further Milestone in the Mercedes-Benz Product Offensive

STUTTGART, Germany and TUSCALOOSA, Ala., Aug. 27 DaimlerChrysler AG has announced it will produce the Mercedes-Benz Grand Sports Tourer (GST) at its Tuscaloosa, Alabama (USA) factory. Production launch is planned for the end of 2004. The company announced at a Mercedes-Benz USA dealer meeting that the market launch will correspond closely with the production launch.

A $600 million expansion is already underway at the Tuscaloosa plant, which currently produces the Mercedes-Benz M-Class sport utility vehicle. Construction for the expanded facility should be complete by early 2004.

Professor Jurgen Hubbert, Board of Management Member of DaimlerChrysler AG responsible for Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars & smart: "With the Grand Sports Tourer, DaimlerChrysler is systematically advancing its product offensive, while also defining a new and promising market segment in the premium market area. The GST establishes a new vehicle class that combines the features of various car concepts to form a new independent profile."

The "GST Vision" concept study was presented at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January 2002 and subsequently was further developed to the production standard in record time. The Mercedes- Benz GST will be launched in the United States to closely correspond with the production launch.

"With the Grand Sports Tourer, DaimlerChrysler will be continuing the success story of the Tuscaloosa site. The outstanding acceptance of the M-Class, which has been produced in Alabama since 1997, shows that we have developed an ideal market for the sport utility vehicle segment in the USA," said Dr.Joachim Schmidt, Head of Mercedes-Benz PC & smart Sales & Marketing, in justifying the choice of the location. "As a touring car, station wagon, large-capacity vehicle and sport utility vehicle rolled into one the Grand Sports Tourer is primarily geared to the needs of the North American market. However, we also see great potential for the Mercedes-Benz GST in Europe due to its high functionality and flexibility."

As Unveiled In Detroit January 2002

The Vision GST: Mercedes-Benz presents design study for a six-seater tourer of the future

"Grand Sports Tourer" vision for a new market segment Innovative concept for exciting and enjoyable motoring Spacious interior with four rear seats Dynamic body lines with sporty styling touches SBC, 4-ETS, AIRMATIC and the new safety system PRE-SAFE 265 kW/360 hp V8 AMG engine At the North American Auto Show in Detroit, Mercedes-Benz is once again showing its class as a leading innovator and trend-setter among premium-class automotive brands. With Vision GST, the marque with the longest tradition of any automotive brand in the world is presenting a radically new vehicle concept closely focused on the needs and wishes of people of today.

The letters GST stand for "Grand Sports Tourer", a new and tantalising class of vehicle which combines features of a number of established vehicle concepts into a new and distinctive format: Vision GST is a touring saloon, estate, people carrier and sport utility vehicle (SUV) rolled into one. Above all, it is a vehicle which lends unprecedented excitement and new meaning to the concept of long-distance driving pleasure. This Mercedes study oozes luxury from the moment the occupants step on board, allowing them to savour and enjoy every minute of the journey.

Sporty, elegant design with sports car styling touches

The design study unveiled by Mercedes-Benz in Detroit offers an intriguing window onto the future of the automobile. It answers frequently aired desires for a vehicle for all occasions which is consummately styled, exciting to drive and highly engineered - a car which offers lots of room for family and leisure outings, for touring and for professional use but at the same time combines this with sharp handling and effortless performance. All of this is achieved with the aid of high-quality Mercedes-Benz design and ground-breaking technical innovations, plus a high-performance engine with beefy torque.

Of various dynamic styling features, the striking arc-shaped roof line which runs in a gentle sweep from the A-pillar to the C-pillar deserves particular mention. It emphasises the long, sleek silhouette and hints strongly at the powerful, sporty power plant lurking beneath the capacious exterior. This impression is further reinforced by the large, 22-inch wheels and the wedge-shaped side view.

Hand-crafted interior materials

Sumptuous, hand-crafted materials like wood, leather and aluminium underpin the exclusive interior ambience in the Vision GST. The ingenious lighting with new-design luminous panels in the roof lining, in the door trim and on the transmission tunnel accentuates the cosy atmosphere. The driver, the front passenger and the occupants of the rear seats can feel completely at their ease in the comfortable, power-adjustable single seats with integrated belt system. With a third seat row for two additional passengers in the rear, the Vision GST offers comfortable accommodation for six people. The large side window areas and the panoramic glass roof allow them to enjoy the journey to the full.

In the area of the instrument panel, the eye is drawn to the centre console which almost appears detached from the rest of the dashboard. The centre console, with its two aluminium panels and tinted glass, houses the colour monitor, the CD player, the car radio and many of the controls. The monitor, which is part of the navigation system, incorporates new software which gives the arrows, road maps and other graphic display features a spatialised, "3D" effect. This advanced display technology is also used for the shimmering blue cockpit instruments. An entertainment system comprising DVD player and video games keeps passengers in the rear occupied during long journeys.

High-tech specification incorporating trailblazing Mercedes innovations

Underneath the bonnet of the Vision GST lurks a 5.5 litre V8 Mercedes-AMG power plant, developing 265 kW/360 hp. The design study is also equipped with the four-wheel drive electronic traction support system 4-ETS from the M- and G-Classes, AIRMATIC air suspension and the new high-pressure brake system Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC). The large brake discs are of carbon fibre-reinforced ceramic.

The occupant protection features are rounded off by the new PRE-SAFE safety system which can detect an impending collision in advance and activates the belt-tensioners before the impact actually occurs.

The Vision GST measures 5.15 metres in length - the same as a long-wheelbase S-Class. The wheelbase measures 3.22 metres.