QR Codes on Mercedes-Benz Vehicles Can Help Save Crash Victims

Photo Courtesy of Daimler AG

Daimler AG, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, announced that it will be putting two QR codes on new Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The QR codes will be there to help emergency workers view rescue sheets, which show the best way to get occupants out of a crashed vehicle safely.

A QR code is commonly used so consumers can bring up a specific website on their smartphone or tablet without having to type in that web address. In this case, after taking a picture of the QR code on their mobile device using a QR reader app, first responders will be able to bring up the rescue map for that particular automobile.
Daimler says the rescue maps show major components of the vehicles, such as the battery, air bags and electric cables, so first responders can use the Jaws of Life and other tools properly. They add that having a QR code on the vehicle will make it faster to locate rescue information.
A QR code will be added to the fuel tank flap and on the B-pillar on the opposite side of all Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Daimler notes that “it seldom occurs that both these parts are badly damaged at the same time in an accident, and they are furthermore easily accessible from the outside.”

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Redesigned 2014 Mercedes S-Class Revealed

Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz unveiled the redesigned 2014 S-Class sedan Wednesday at a press event in Hamburg, Germany. “Stylistically, the S-class is more evolutionary than revolutionary,” writes Autoweek. “It shows obvious heritage in many places, but the surfacing treatment is contemporary enough to give it a modern appeal.”
The automaker seems confident that the 2014 S-Class will stack up well against competing super luxury cars. "Rather than being about safety or aesthetics, power or efficiency, comfort or dynamism, our aspirations were 'the best or nothing' in every respect,” says Dr. Dieter Zetsche, chairman of the board of management of Daimler AG and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, in a press release. “No other car stands for the Mercedes-Benz brand promise more than the S-Class."

Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

The new S-Class will be available in S550, S550 4MATIC and high-performance S63 AMG models when it hits showroom floors in September. The 2014 S550 will have 26 more horsepower than the outgoing 2013 model, thanks to a revamped twin-turbo 4.7-liter V8 engine that produces 455 horsepower. A seven-speed automatic transmission will also come standard. Mercedes says that the redesigned S550 will have a top speed of 130 mph and accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in roughly 4.8 seconds. A new Magic Body Control suspension system will be optional on the 2014 S-Class, which anticipates road conditions and adjusts the suspension by using cameras to scan the road ahead.
Kicking Tires reports that the 2014 S550 will offer an updated infotainment system, new heated seats with massage, four-zone climate control and an available Burmester stereo system. On the safety front, the redesigned S-Class will offer an updated Pre-Safe collision system, which can automatically stop the S-Class at speeds up to 31 mph if a pedestrian is detected. Rear seatbelt air bags will also be available to reduce the risk of ribcage injuries if a collision occurs.

Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes hasn’t announced pricing for the 2014 S550 yet, but the current 2013 S550 starts at $95,000, plus a $905 destination charge. The automaker says that the average S-Class buyer is 61 years old with an annual income of $371,000.

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Luxury Car Market Hits Six-Year High

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class/Image Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

Almost 400,000 new luxury vehicles were sold during the first quarter of 2013. This is the highest sales volume of luxury vehicles since 2007, Kelley Blue Book announced Thursday. In its New-Car Market Report, KBB.com says the average price luxury buyers paid for their new vehicle also increased.
Alec Gutierrez, senior market analyst, automotive insights for Kelley Blue Book, says, “The luxury crossover segment improved 26.4 percent in the first quarter, thanks to new models such as the Infiniti JX and BMW X1. In addition, the recently redesigned Acura RDX helped as sales more than tripled from last year in March.”
The report also showed that Cadillac had significant gains in the first quarter. The brand had a 38-percent gain in sales over the previous year, which Kelley Blue Book attributes to the new Cadillac ATS and XTS. Cadillac says in a statement that both luxury vehicles posted their best sales month in March.
Even though Cadillac showed the largest increase in the luxury market, Mercedes-Benz still holds the largest portion of the market and had its largest first quarter sales thus far. Kelley Blue Book predicts that Mercedes-Benz has a good chance of keeping its lead because of its impending CLA-Class that will start at less than $30,000, as well as the redesigned E-Class.
According to KBB.com’s report, luxury car shoppers are paying more for a new vehicle. In March, they paid an average of $47,791, compared with $46,629 the same time a year ago. Kelley Blue Books says, “New and improved introductions combined with healthy demand have allowed manufacturers to increase both sales and prices.” All the positive growth in the luxury vehicle market means that luxury shoppers looking for a good deal may not find one.

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