STAR NOTE STAR CONTACT - Mercedes-Benz Egypt

STAR NOTE
STAR CONTACT
You can find out more about Mercedes-Benz products and services in Egypt on our website www.mercedes-benz.com.eg, or
through calling our call centre on 3331000 or at any of the following authorised dealers:
Giza National Automotive
(Sales, Service and Parts Dealer)
1 Tahrir St., Dokki.
Tel: 337 1029 - 336 8208 Fax: 749 4871
(Sales)
134 El Nile St., Agouza
Tel: 749 2567/8 Fax: 749 2583
www.gizanational.com
German Auto Service
(Service and Parts Dealer)
Km 18, Cairo - Ismailia Rd.
Tel: 698 2286 Fax: 698 3808
Dear Readers,
Coming to you with the dawn of a New Year, we send the first issue of
starEGYPT for the year 2007 with our very best wishes.
In this issue, we proudly take you into the heart of action where the S 500
makes a graceful debut in the Egyptian market. During the glamorous, world-class
event that unanimously appealed to all the attendees, we were delighted and proud
to witness the presence of Dr. Dieter Zetsche, the Chairman of the Board of
Management DaimlerChrysler AG and Head of Mercedes Car Group, in acknowledgment
of our achievement.
From there we take you through an adventurous journey from Paris to Beijing
with 36 E-Class diesel cars, and onto the glamorous red carpet nights with the 30th Cairo International Film Festival. We then delve deeper into the establishment of
Star Care Egypt – the charity organization for Egyptian children in need.
Also along the way in this issue, you will get in touch with the many other activities
and accomplishments of Mercedes-Benz in Egypt and around the world, from
sports and design to technology and creations.
With this brief overview, I leave you with a promise of a highly engaging read
for this issue and even more to anticipate in the one to come. Enjoy your journey.
Warmest regards,
Zakaria Mackary
Director
Sales and Marketing
Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars
Cairo National Automotive
(Sales, Service and Parts Dealer)
1025 Corniche El Nile, Fom-El-Khalig.
Tel: 364 0180 Fax: 365 7767
www.cna.mercedes-benz.com.eg
Maadi Engineering Car Co.
(Service and Parts Dealer)
14, Road 9, Maadi, Cairo.
Tel: 378 2186 - 358 6147 Fax: 359 2136
Alexandria National Automotive
(Sales, Service and Parts Dealer)
Cairo-Alexandria Agricultural Rd., Semouha.
Tel: (03) 424 8745 Fax: (03) 429 6086
(Sales)
91, 26 July St., El Raml Area.
Tel: (03) 483 3333 Fax: (03) 483 5555
www.ana.mercedes-benz.com.eg
Engineering Car Co. - Pyramids S.A.E.
(Service and Parts Dealer)
Km 28, Cairo - Alex. Desert Rd., Abou Rawash.
Tel: 539 0041 Fax: 539 0028
starEGYPT 1

STAR CONTENTS
4
10
12
EVENTS
THE S 500 DEBUT IN EGYPT
A world-class event
LIFESTYLE
JETTE JOOP
CHOOSES THE R-CLASS
FEATURE
STAR CARE EGYPT
Lending a helping hand
to Egyptian children
starEGYPT
Issue 1/2007 E
Published by: DaimlerChrysler Egypt S.A.E.
Publishers' council: Zakaria Mackary, Lamia El Rashidy
9
16
FEATURE
THE E-CLASS MARATHON
FROM PARIS TO BEIJING
Nine countries, two continents, six time zones,
and 14,000 kilometres of adventure with the
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Responsible on behalf of the publisher and produced by: Marcom, Egypt
Photos: Photos: p. 24-26: Hatem El Gamal, p. 27: courtesy of Dr. Ezzat Abou Ouf, cover and
all other photos: DaimlerChrysler.
Rights: Reprints as a whole or in part only with permission of DaimlerChrysler Egypt S.A.E.
starEGYPT is a complimentary, non-periodical publication of Mercedes-Benz in Egypt. Printed in Egypt
8 24
EVENTS
MERCEDES-BENZ IN EGYPT
WELCOMES DR. DIETER
ZETSCHE ON HIS FIRST VISIT
TO EGYPT
EVENTS
THE STAR DRIVES THE STARS
At the Cairo International Film Festival
14
FEATURE
TEN YEARS OF THE
SLK-CLASS
Superbly successful trendsetter among
open-top cars
20
FEATURE
THE WORLD’S
CLEANEST DIESEL
Mercedes-Benz introduces the first
series-produced passenger car with
BLUETEC technology
22 SPORTS
GOLF IN FULL SWING
FRONT
THE S-CLASS
PROUDLY ASSEMBLED IN EGYPT
38 37
ENTERTAINMENT
THE NEW SOUND OF
39 GLOSSARY
TECHNICAL
GLOSSARY
28
34
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starEGYPT. SEND YOUR COMMENT IN NO MORE THAN 100 WORDS TO:
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EDITOR'S REPLY IN THE NEXT ISSUE.
DID YOU KNOW THAT?
The C-Class continues to be the best seller of
the Mercedes-Benz product range
PROFILE
WHEN ART AND
SCIENCE MEET
Up close and personal with Dr. Ezzat Abou Ouf
HERITAGE
THE LEGENDARY SILVER ARROW
Masterpieces of motor racing history
AN ONLINE VISIT TO
CLUB MERCEDES THE MERCEDES-BENZ 38ONLINE
MUSEUM
40
Copyright ©2007 Mercedes-Benz in Egypt. All rights reserved. The
text, images and graphics in this publication and their arrangement
are all subject to copyright and other intellectual property protection.
These objects may not be copied for commercial use or distribution,
nor may these objects be modified or utilized for other purposes.
2 starEGYPT starEGYPT 3

STAR EVENTS
The S 500 Debut in Egypt
A WORLD-CLASS EVENT
Dr. Zetsche during his speech at the S 500 debut
On the 13th of January 2007, Mercedes-Benz in Egypt celebrated the
debut of the locally assembled S 500 in Egypt. The most distinguished
figures in the Egyptian society came together to witness the
well-awaited appearance of the foremost luxury saloon car. More
than 700 guests comprising of prominent social, business and political
figures showed up at the elegant Plaza ballroom in the heart of
the Four Seasons Nile Plaza Hotel where the event took place.
4 starEGYPT
From left to right: Mr. John Stech, Eng. Zakaria Mackary, Eng. Sami Saad,
and Dr. Zetsche
With absolute confidence and pride, this world-class event
crowns a national achievement for Egypt as it becomes one of
the first countries to assemble the S-Class outside Germany.
Such an accomplishment for Mercedes-Benz in Egypt is not
only recognised on the local level with an increasing demand
and reservation list for the S 500, but is also very much
acknowledged on the international level. The honourable
The performance of Herbert’s Dream captivated the audience right
from the beginning
attendance of Dr. Dieter Zetsche, the Chairman of the Board
of Management DaimlerChrysler AG and Head of Mercedes
Car Group, is a solid proof of the importance of such an event
to Mercedes-Benz in Egypt locally and globally. Dr. Dieter
Zetsche was accompanied by Dr. Joachim Schmidt, President
of DaimlerChrysler Africa, Asia, Middle East &
Central/Eastern Europe, as well as Mr. Matthias Luehrs,
Director of DaimlerChrysler Africa, Asia, Middle East &
Central/Eastern Europe.
Mr. John Stech, CEO of DaimlerChrysler Egypt and Eng. Sami
Saad, Chairman of Egyptian German Automotive Co. (EGA), and
Eng. Zakaria Mackary, Director of Sales and Marketing of
Mercedes-Benz in Egypt consider receiving the acknowledge-
From left to right: Eng. Tarek Ismail, Mr. Mostafa El Salab, Mr. Nashaat
Shenouda, Mr. Karim Saad, and Eng. Zakaria Mackary
Chic and welcoming, the S 500 debut was a pleasant experience to all the attendees Dr. Dieter Zetsche with a group of the Mercedes-Benz sales team
ment of Dr. Zetsche a timeless token of appreciation.
DR. ZETSCHE’S ATTENDANCE:
AN HONOURABLE TOKEN
Being the guest of honour, Dr. Zetsche announced his pleasure
with the impressive progress and continuous development
undergoing at Mercedes-Benz Egypt. As Dr. Zetsche rightly
expressed his contentment during his speech “EGA has the
right technology, highly-trained and dedicated people and a
track record for quality that has earned it the opportunity to
produce the flagship of Mercedes-Benz, the new S-Class”.
Dr. Zetsche described the reveal of the S 500 as “a bright new
star for the Egyptian market”.
starEGYPT 5

The S 500 in silver being revealed to the attendees
“EGA has the right technology, highly-trained and dedicated people and
a track record for quality that has earned it the opportunity to produce
the flagship of Mercedes-Benz, the new S-Class”. - Dr. Zetsche
Dr. Zetsche with guests
6 starEGYPT
From left to right: Mr. Matthias Luehrs, Eng. Sami Saad, Dr. Joachim Schmidt and
Eng. Zakaria Mackary
The oriental/Cuban music of Hanine Y & Son Cubano moved the audience
THE S 500 REVEAL:
A MAGNIFICENT EVENT
Guests were truly amazed by everything during the event,
starting from the creative set up and the outstanding hospitality
all the way to the world-class entertainment, the lively
spirit and of course by the star of the event: the new S 500.
The entire venue was characterised by a unified black-and-
Guests were fascinated
with the magical performance
of Herbert’s Dream
renowned promenade performance – Herbert’s Dream, a
whimsical and magical show presented by the acclaimed
French outdoor theatre company Cie Quidams. Audiences
were enthralled as five stilted, mysterious figures draped in
white drifted along the stage. Step by step, they moved with
amazing grace and transformed into spectacular celestial
bodies from another world. Dancing slowly in a magic ritual
they invited the audience to follow them on their journey to
white theme. The extending white couches and high tables,
the plasma screens showing the S-Class in action, and the
refined brand signs throughout the place blended perfectly to
give a modern and chic spirit. A sleek S 500 in black stood on
one end of the ballroom and a glamorous S 500 in silver on
the other end; both embracing the attendees and covered in
white satin awaiting to be revealed. Guests enjoyed the world-
find a mysterious light. For the finale, the performers lure
the audience towards the draped cars, and slowly unveil the
two S 500 vehicles.
After taking a closer look at the astounding S 500, the guests are
entertained once again with the outstanding performance by Hanine
Y & Son Cubano. The international performers kept the guests
engaged by their eccentric musical style merging between international
and oriental genres.
starEGYPT 7

STAR EVENTS
MERCEDES-BENZ IN EGYPT WELCOMES
Dr. Dieter Zetsche on his first visit to Egypt
The family of Mercedes-Benz in Egypt welcomed Dr. Dieter Zetsche,
the Chairman of the Board of Management DaimlerChrysler AG and
Head of Mercedes Car Group, on his first visit to Egypt. Mercedes-Benz
in Egypt witnessed this notable occasion from the 12 th to the 14 th of
January, 2007. Visiting in recognition of the S 500 debut in Egypt, Dr.
Zetsche’s stay started off with a breathtaking tour around Cairo’s most
fascinating landmarks such as the Egyptian Museum, Al Azhar Park,
Sultan Hassan’s Mosque and the wondrous Giza Pyramids. He ended
the sightseeing experience on the third day of his visit when he flew
observe the quality standards followed. Impressed with the tremendous
efforts, outstanding quality and topmost innovations presented at
EGA, Dr. Zetsche expressed his fascination: “Egyptian innovation
didn’t end with the pyramids… the plants that assemble our cars and
trucks – such as the EGA – are themselves major innovations in which
our generation can take great pride.”
A world of inspiring success
A man of great influential capacity and inspiring capabilities,
Dr. Zetsche has been a member of the Board of Management of
DaimlerChrysler AG since December 16, 1998, and Chairman of the
Board of Management of DaimlerChrysler AG since January 1, 2006.
He is also responsible for the Mercedes Car Group division which
8 starEGYPT
Dr. Zetsche among EGA’s staff
to Upper Egypt. By the banks of the River Nile, Dr. Zetsche and his
company enjoyed a timeless tour around King Tut’s Tomb, the Luxor
Temple and the fascinating Karnak Temple.
DaimlerChrysler family in Egypt had the chance to meet
Dr. Zetsche and to discuss with him various issues during an exquisite
dinner overlooking the Nile at one of Cairo’s most elegant hotels.
During his stay, Dr. Zetsche also paid a visit to the Egyptian German
Automotive Co. (EGA) where he was given a tour around the facilities.
He was able to get a closer insight on the assembly line of the S 500 to
“Egyptian innovation didn’t end
with the pyramids… the plants that
assemble our cars and trucks –
such as the EGA – are themselves
major innovations in which our
generation can take great pride.”
- Dr. Zetsche
includes passenger cars of the brands Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and
smart as well as Mercedes-Benz AMG and Mercedes-Benz McLaren.
Named to Time Magazine's 2006's list of 100 most influential
people, Dr. Zetsche was born on May 5th , 1953 in Istanbul, Turkey.
After attending school in Frankfurt and obtaining the Abitur
(university entrance examination), he studied electrical engineering
at the University of Karlsruhe and graduated as an engineer
in 1976. He joined the research department of
DaimlerChrysler AG – formerly known as Daimler-Benz AG – in
1976 and became assistant to the Development Manager in the
Commercial Vehicles business unit in 1981. He completed a doctorate
in engineering in 1982 at the University of Paderborn.
THE STAR
DRIVES THE STARS
AT THE CAIRO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
International filmmakers were transported with sheer grace to and from
the festival scenes in glamorous Mercedes-Benz cars
Mercedes-Benz in Egypt shimmered among the international filmmaking
stars from November 28th till December 8th 2006 at the
Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) for 2006. With this year
marking the 30th anniversary of the prestigious festival, Mercedes-
Benz in Egypt took part in the tremendously lavish celebrations
crowning the oldest festival in the whole of the Middle East.
Organised with supreme dedication, the festival was characterised
by a glamorous and alluring ambience. The opening ceremony
welcomed the attendance with fascination and elegance.
Everything from the brilliant fireworks and the extensive media
coverage anticipated the prominent filmmakers as they descended
from the lustrous Mercedes-Benz cars lining up before the red
carpet extending all the way to the doors of the Opera House.
As the official vehicle for the festival, Mercedes-Benz in Egypt
generously provided a lustrous fleet of top-of-the-line models
comprising of the glamorous S-Class and the refined E-Class as
means of transportation for the distinguished international stars
attending the festival. During their stay, superstars like
Jacqueline Bisset the renowned international cinema star, Luis
Puenzo the Argentinean director, Danny Glover the famous
Hollywood star, Maria Pitarresi the beautiful French actress and
Omar El Sherif the international star were escorted to and from
the festival scenes in Mercedes-Benz vehicles. From the award
The S-Class escorted Egyptian actor Omar El Sharif to the opening ceremony
of the 30 th Cairo International Film Festival
ceremonies to film premiers, the festival transportations were
brought to absolute grace, optimum efficiency and supreme style,
thanks to Mercedes-Benz.
Being the official transportation vehicle for the 30th Cairo
International Film Festival, Mercedes-Benz truly embodied the
prefect impression that definitely levelled up to the importance of
such a prestigious event. Eng. Zakaria Mackary, Director of Sales
and Marketing of Mercedes-Benz in Egypt, expressed his contentment
with the cooperation of Mercedes-Benz and the Ministry of
Culture: "Not only did we succeed in portraying our committed
advocacy to art and film, we are also very proud to take part in
this prestigious government-supported event".
The name of Mercedes-Benz has always been highly associated
with the filming industry as part of its sponsorship activities
worldwide. In terms of product placement, Mercedes-Benz cars put
on shining performances in films such as “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”,
“The Devil Wears Prada” and “Jacobian Building”.
The film festival was characterised by diversity, art and excellence;
features which perfectly portray the pure essence of
Mercedes-Benz as a brand. As part of its philosophy to endorse the
world of art and culture, Mercedes-Benz in Egypt took part in presenting
artistic and cultural exchange through film and contributed
in making the 30th Cairo Film Festival a memorable success.
starEGYPT 9

STAR LIFESTYLE
JetteJoop
chooses the R-Class
Whether it be for a rock band, a designer or a basketball trainer, the
unique vehicle concept that underpins the Mercedes-Benz R-Class
is designed to meet the particular needs of modern people in the
modern world. The touring SUV provides an exemplary level of
ride comfort for the driver, front passenger and rear passengers.
10 starEGYPT
This is why the Rolling Stones used the R-Class as a shuttle on last
year's "A Bigger Bang" tour in the US. Designer and entrepreneuse
Jette Joop also plumped for the R-Class because "most of all, I am
enthralled by the vehicle's extravagant, exciting design, its high
level of practicality and its spaciousness".
With her JETTE label, Jette Joop is one of the most captivating
designers on the current scene. Her jewellery, fashion and perfume
creations have made her a firm favourite with some of the
world's most successful fashion houses. Her designs exude a
casual elegance, appearing neither blatant nor contrived, and
the R-Class. Not only did she study industrial
design at the Art Center College of Design in
California, she has also worked at Ralph Lauren
and Barry Kieselstein-Cord in New York. Joop, who
is usually chauffeured around to give herself more
time to attend to pressing business, describes the
sovereign driving feel and generous interior of the
R-Class in short and succinct terms: "Lots of space
and light. With luxurious individual seats for a comfortable
working environment." And, of course,
impressive design quality coupled with hallmark
Mercedes craftsmanship of the very highest order.
The Designzentrum Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine-
Westphalia Design Centre) certainly seems to share Jette Joop's
view, having presented the Mercedes-Benz R-Class with its top
accolade for outstanding design – the "red dot design award -
best of the best" – back in June of this year. Alongside superla-
above all are extremely easy to live with. Similar attributes are
displayed by Jette Joop's new car. Since summer 2006, Jette
Joop drives a Mercedes-Benz R-Class – a vehicle which comes
very close to her vision of the ideal car.
Joop is certainly well qualified to judge the design quality of
tive design quality and outstanding comfort, the pioneering
4+2-seater vehicle concept offers a wealth of further benefits
including high variability, exemplary safety and prestigious
flair. Plus the R-Class gives the driver an all-new motoring
experience, delivering a level of handling and driving dynamics
that belies a car of this size, thanks largely to a powerful
engine line-up with outputs ranging from 140 kW/190 hp to
375 kW/510 hp and a well-balanced chassis offering high safety
reserves under all driving conditions.
Standard equipment includes 4MATIC permanent all-wheel
drive, the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission with
DIRECT SELECT and rear air suspension. Plus there is a comprehensive
passive safety package featuring adaptive front airbags,
front sidebags, windowbags and, as an optional extra, the PRE-
SAFE ® preventive occupant protection system which identifies
situations that might turn into accidents and "instinctively" prepares
the driver and passengers for a possible collision.
starEGYPT 11

STAR FEATURE
Star Care Egypt – a charity organization for Egyptian children in
need – sees the light into the community with the dawn of the
New Year. Shining with a new hope for the disadvantaged children
of our community, Star Care’s main objectives are to support
projects for children in need, and to be actively involved in charitable
deeds. The idea of the project stems from a well-rooted charity
organization established in 1996: Star Care Stuttgart.
Originally founded by top executives in Mercedes-Benz
Germany, Star Care Stuttgart has helped to launch and support
projects for children in need, and has been actively involved in
charitable organisations and implementation of their activities.
Today, Star Care Egypt commences its activities by directing
charities to helpless and underprivileged children in Egypt such
as children with social and psychological problems, physically
and mentally challenged children, children with educational deficiencies,
and homeless children and orphans. Sharing this establishment
with DaimlerChrysler Egypt are Egyptian German
Automotive, Cairo National Automotive, Giza National
Automotive, Alexandria National Automotive, National
Automotive Co., Keller Logistik, the German – Arab Chamber of
Industry & Commerce, the Arab Legal Consultants, and Prof.
12 starEGYPT
STAR CARE EGYPT
LENDING A HELPING HAND TO EGYPTIAN CHILDREN
Treuner. A well-known pedriatic oncologist, Prof. Treuner is also
one of the founders of Star Care in Germany and is currently
working in Egypt.
“This year we’ll begin our first project in conjunction with the
Cairo Children’s Cancer Hospital called Star Care Home Care”,
explained Dr. Dieter Zetsche, the Chairman of the Board of
Management DaimlerChrysler AG and Head of Mercedes Car
Group announced during his visit to Egypt last January, “a
Mercedes-Benz A-Class will be provided to doctors who need to
visit sick children in their homes.”
Under the name of Star Care Home Care, this project establishes
a medical home care system for treating and visiting children
with cancer whereby an A-Class fully-equipped with all the
required medical instruments and medications, an experienced
nurse in pedriatic oncology as well as a physician will be provided
to help reduce the days of hospitalisation and to educate the
family on how to manage the disease at home.
As Dr. Zetsche puts it: the founders of Star Care Egypt “know
that there are many challenges to treating young children with
cancer, other diseases or handicaps and through this project we
want to help make sure that transportation isn’t one of them.”

STAR FEATURE
TEN YEARS
OF THE SLK-CLASS
SUPERBLY SUCCESSFUL TRENDSETTER AMONG OPEN-TOP CARS
It was exactly ten years ago that the Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class
made its debut in the showrooms. The compact roadster was
one of the highlights of the first Mercedes-Benz strategic
product initiative and still stands as a symbol of the new,
dynamic brand image of the Stuttgart-based car maker.
Furthermore, the SLK-Class established a new market segment
in 1996, a segment which has since enjoyed exceptionally
rapid growth. Thanks to the steel vario-roof, which turns
the two-seater into a weatherproof coupé in a matter of seconds,
the roadster was and continues to be the inspiration for
many other open-top cars. The current SLK-Class continues to
set trends with innovations such as the AIRSCARF neck-level
heating system. Worldwide, Mercedes-Benz has produced a
total of some 459,000 SLK models since 1996. With an average
market share of 34 per cent, the current SLK-Class is the
world leader in the compact roadster segment.
14 starEGYPT
"Roadster driving pleasure with new perfection" was how
Mercedes-Benz summed up the SLK-Class at its market
launch in autumn 1996. The Stuttgart-based car maker's
claim was borne out by the roadster's compelling design;
sophisticated technology and exemplary safety which provided
the basis for its success and helped it attain the status of a
contemporary cult car.
The innovative vario-roof is what made the SLK unique among
open-top cars. It offers all the benefits of a fixed hard top but is
just as flexible as a soft top. The fully automatic transformation
from roadster to coupé – or vice-versa – takes only a matter of seconds
and the brilliant design of the vario-roof allows it to be
stowed in the boot. It deploys at the touch of a button, sliding forward
and closing above the occupants to protect them from the
elements.
Invented by Mercedes, it was this feature that made the 1996
SLK a trendsetter for a new generation of open-top cars equipped
with vario-roof-type technology which offers distinct benefits with
regard to sound insulation and year-round comfort. Ten years after
its world premiere in the SLK, this innovative roof technology has
been adopted by many car makers for their cabriolets and roadsters.
Mercedes-Benz also opened a new chapter in the field of cabriolet
safety with the SLK-Class. The two-seater's airbags, sidebags,
belt tensioners, belt force limiters, automatic child-seat recognition
function and effective roll-over protection (featuring tubular
reinforcements in the A-pillars and high-strength steel roll-over
bars) also put it well ahead of other open-top cars.
head, throat and neck warm. This means that the SLK-Class
makes it possible to enjoy open-top driving pleasure even during
the colder months. In other words, AIRSCARF allows SLK owners
to drive with the top down for longer and more frequently.
A number of features – including adaptive, two-stage airbags
and newly developed head/thorax sidebags – also set the
Mercedes two-seater apart from other sports cars in this segment.
A sensational success: demand for the SLK exceeded all expectations
In addition to trendsetting technology, high design values are
another hallmark of the SLK-Class. When the roadster appeared
ten years ago, its stylish lines were an instant hit and were one of
the decisive factors in the sensational success of the model
series. Enthusiasm for the two-seater was so great that the SLK
sold out shortly after the market launch and production capacity
had to be increased significantly.
More than 311,000 units of the first-generation SLK-Class
Innovation: the world's only car with a warm-air blower integrated
in the seats
The new SLK-Class, which has been on the market since March
2004, expresses its sporty character even more emphatically and
sets new trends with its trailblazing technology. In addition to an
enhanced vario-roof, which opens even more quickly and occupies
less boot space thanks to its pivoting rear window, the Mercedes
sports car is unique in offering the AIRSCARF neck-level heating
system. Integrated in the seat backrests, the patented AIRSCARF
system blows warm air from openings in the head restraints and
thus functions as an invisible scarf which keeps each occupant's
When the roadster appeared ten years ago,
its stylish lines were an instant hit and were
one of the decisive factors in the sensational
success of the model series.
were produced between autumn 1996 and March 2004, while
more than 40 international prizes and awards underline the
immense popularity of this compact roadster.
The new SLK-Class has been continuing this successful trend
since March 2004. Customers have a choice of four engine variants,
including the six-cylinder SLK 280 and SLK 350 as well as
the SLK 55 AMG which has an eight-cylinder power plant. The
power output of the SLK models ranges from 120 kW/163 hp to
265 kW/360 hp. Since late summer 2006, Mercedes-Benz has
offered a new SLK-Class Sports package which gives the twoseater
an even more dynamic look and feel.
To date, Mercedes-Benz has produced some 148,000 units of
the current SLK-Class and leads the world market in this segment
with an average share of 34 per cent. In Germany and other West
European countries, almost one out of two new registrations in
this sports-car segment is an SLK model.
starEGYPT 15

STAR FEATURE
On October 21st , 36 E-Class cars with clean diesel drive started on
a fascinating long-distance drive covering around 13,600 kilometres
from Paris to Beijing. The journey from Europe to Asia passes
through France, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia,
Russia and Kazakhstan before ending in China. This event was not
only a particular challenge owing to very low temperatures, ice,
snow and short hours of daylight. Absolving the daily stages of up
to 750 kilometres through sometimes unpassable areas, under
unusual traffic conditions and crossing passes at altitudes of up to
2,900 metres required outstanding concentration, experience and
fitness of the participants who took turns at the wheel during the
five 1,900 to 3,400-kilometre stages of the event. They include
international journalists, celebrities and online applicants who
were chosen from more than 50,000 who expressed interest
16 starEGYPT
The E-Class Marathon
FROM PARIS TO BEIJING
Nine countries, two continents, six time zones, and 14,000
kilometres of adventure with the Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The marathon passed through Berlin. Dr. Zetsche in Paris where the marathon took off The E-Class cars race off from Paris
through the Internet. The sporting challenge for the roughly 330
participants from 35 nations was to achieve the lowest possible
fuel consumption for the separate stages and the overall distance.
Travelling across eight national borders and six time zones,
the “E-Class Experience” fleet numbered around 60 cars,
including the accompanying vehicles. Altogether the 36 diesel
saloons covered around 450,000 kilometres within 28 days,
corresponding to eleven and a half times the orbit around the
earth on the equator.
The Mercedes-Benz marathon fleet consisted of serial E-Class
models, some of which had 4MATIC all-wheel drive. In addition to
the 33 E 320 CDIs, three E-Classes were equipped with BLUETEC
technology. This forward-looking technology turns the Mercedes-
Benz saloon into the cleanest diesel car in the world.
THE GLORIES OF OLD EUROPE
The first stage stretched over approximately 3,400 kilometres from
Paris to Stuttgart, Berlin and Warsaw as well as the Baltic capitals
of Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn to finish in St. Petersburg. On their
way, the participants passed some of the most beautiful places of
old Europe, as well as widely unspoiled regions like the Masurian
lakes in the north east of Poland.
East of Moscow, at the unknown part of Europe, is where the
team’s second stage began. Cities like Nizhny Novgorod and Kazan
on the so-called “Wolga Highway”, the inner harbour town of
Perm, situated on the other side of the Ural Mountains, the imaginary
frontier between Europe and Asia were to most participants
“terra incognita”, as were the regions they drove through for
around 2,700 kilometres: Chuvashia, Tatarstan and Udmurtia.
FROM EUROPE’S EAST TO CHINA’S WEST
The E-Class fleet made its way through Kazakhstan in the direction
of China. The third, 2,500-kilometre stage led from Kostanai
and the new Kazakh capital of Astana to Almaty, the country’s old
capital. During this stage the participants crossed the vast
expanse of the Kazakhian steppe and the “Steppe of Hunger”, in
the middle of which lies an uninhabited region the size of
Hungary. From Almaty the fourth stage of approximately 3,100
kilometres took the drivers into Western China.
ON THE SILK ROAD TO THE YELLOW RIVER
22 days after starting off in Paris, to the south of Hami, the E-Class
teams joined another legendary route: the Silk Road. Following this
historical trade route, the participants reached the western offshoots
of the Great Wall and finally, at the end of the fourth stage in
starEGYPT 17

Lanzhou, met yet another Chinese transport artery: the Yellow River.
Around 1,900 kilometres of the last stage remain to be covered
before the drivers arrived at the final destination of their journey.
The route followed the valley of the Yellow River, then crossed the
outer reaches of the Gobi desert and the grass pastures of Inner
The E-Class fleet makes a stop in front of the Mercedes-Benz
Museum in Stuttgart
THE FIRST TRANSCONTINENTAL CAR RACE IN HISTORY
The symbolic bridging between Europe and Asia over long stretches
of the journey follows the route of the first transcontinental car
race in history, which started exactly 99 years ago from Peking to
Paris. The initiators’ aim was to demonstrate the technical superiority
of the car over the horse. After the race had been reversed in
direction owing to weather conditions, thus starting in Peking,
eleven adventurers with five automobiles started their journey
18 starEGYPT
Mongolia. Shortly after glimpsing the Great Wall of China once
again, participants reached the destination of the E-Class
Experience on 17th November, 28 days after leaving Paris and having
covered around 13,600 kilometres: the walls of the Forbidden
City in the centre of Beijing.
into the unknown on June 10, 1907.
AND THE WINNER IS… THE E-CLASS DIESEL ENGINE
The grand finale of the long distance drive took place at
Beijing’s historic Yongding Gate; 36 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
cars arrived safe and sound in the Chinese capital after traversing
Europe and Asia. Through this endurance test under
extreme conditions Mercedes-Benz has once again demonstrated
the outstanding performance of its modern diesel
Another major stop: the E-Class in Moscow, Russia
Passing through Berlin’s landmarks Making their way from Lanzhou to Wuhai, China From Balkhash to Almaty, Kazakhstan
engines in terms of emissions, fuel economy and reliability.
Proof of this is also the fuel consumption of the victorious
“eBay” team which won the fuel economy contest with an average
of 7.19 l/100 km diesel. The best result on a daily leg was
as low as 5.5 l/100 km.
“2006 is the year of the E-Class for Mercedes-Benz. With the
new generation of the E-Class, we have thoroughly overhauled
the core of our brand and have made it even more attractive for
our customers”, declared Dr Klaus Maier who is responsible for
Sales and Marketing in the Mercedes Car Group. Through the
diesel marathon across two continents, Mercedes-Benz intended
to demonstrate the global potential of its drive technology. The
true winner in this extraordinary journey from Paris to Beijing
is the E-Class because it beautifully reflected important
Mercedes-Benz brand values: reliability, safety and outstanding
long-distance comfort.
starEGYPT 19

STAR FEATURE
THE WORLD'S
CLEANEST DIESEL
Mercedes-Benz introduces the first series-produced
passenger car with BLUETEC technology
To coincide with the conversion of up to 76,000 US filling stations
to clean Diesel fuel with a sulphur content below 15 ppm,
Mercedes-Benz commenced sales of the E 320 BLUETEC in the
USA and Canada in October 2006. Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel
(ULSD) allows the use of trail-blazing BLUETEC technology, making
the E 320 BLUETEC the world's cleanest Diesel car. The E 320
BLUETEC is the first and only Diesel vehicle worldwide able to
fulfill the most stringent exhaust emissions standards, particularly
in terms of nitrogen oxide emissions.
BLUETEC - A SUPERIOR DRIVE CONCEPT
The BLUETEC concept utilises state-of-the-art diesel engines featuring
common-rail direct injection, thereby providing all the benefits
this drive system has to offer. Fuel consumption in these diesel vehicles
is 20 to 40 percent lower than in cars equipped with a comparable
gasoline engine, and torque - the key indicator of engine power -
is 30 to 50 percent higher. BLUETEC ensures that diesel drives will
continue to offer outstanding driving pleasure in the future. What's
more, in view of continually rising fuel prices, BLUETEC represents
a superior drive concept for both today and tomorrow.
The E 320 BLUETEC offers an impressive example of such
attributes: Its torque of 400 lb-ft gives it the power of a vehicle
equipped with a high-volume V8 gasoline engine, and its acceleration
from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.6 seconds is an illustration of
the model's outstanding performance. With a top speed of 250
km/h, the E 320 BLUETEC delivers great power at low engine
20 starEGYPT
speeds, making for confident yet relaxed driving, energetic acceleration,
and long-range driving on one tank of fuel.
BLUETEC: THE RESULT OF A CLEAR STRATEGY
Rather than being an isolated solution, the E 320 BLUETEC is
just one part of DaimlerChrysler's overall strategy of ensuring
sustainable mobility for the future. Mercedes-Benz will systematically
expand its BLUETEC range. The BLUETEC technology
will be initially launched in the U.S., after which Mercedes-Benz
will prepare for its introduction to other markets. Mercedes-Benz
will offer three further BLUETEC models in the R-Class, M-Class
and GL-Class - meeting the even more stringent BIN 5 standard -
as early as 2008.
COMMITTED TO A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT
DaimlerChrysler's commitment to clean drive systems and to
renewable, environmentally friendly fuels is an element of the
Group's strategy for the future. The aim here is to achieve sustainable
mobility. Doing so will involve addressing three dimensions -
the economy, the environment and society. In 1936, Mercedes-Benz
introduced the world's first series production Diesel car into the
market, and has continued to set standards in this field with
numerous innovative Diesel technologies ever since. Now with
BLUETEC technology, Mercedes-Benz is the pioneer of a new generation
of clean and powerful high-tech drives, whose highly effective
exhaust gas treatment systems give them the potential to fulfill
the world's most stringent emission limits in the future.

STAR SPORTS
GolfIN FULL SWING
MercedesTrophy World Final 2004: Two Mercedes-Benz display cars in front of
the Golfclub Schloss Nippenburg, September, 25 th , 2004
Mercedes-Benz has always shared much in common with the
world's best athletes, namely, exemplary performance and an
unrelenting desire to raise the bar. Naturally, this resulted in a
long-standing association between Mercedes-Benz and the
world's top sporting events and marquee players through sponsorships
of renowned tournaments across various sports. Golf
lovers and players recognize the three-pointed star at prestigious
golf tournaments such as the PGA TOUR and, of course, the distinguished
MercedesTrophy.
Initiated as part of Mercedes-Benz' very effective customer
care program, the MercedesTrophy is an exclusive series of golf
tournaments held to keep in touch with Mercedes-Benz owners.
The only pre-requisite for participation is to be an owner of a
22 starEGYPT
Mercedes-Benz striving to achieve a flawless drive. This international
series is played worldwide in a three stage system - the
National Final, Regional Final and World Final. The series starts
with invitation tournaments at a local level, where players can
qualify for the National Final of the country or Regional Final.
Sound swings and smooth putts kick off with qualifying rounds
at the lush green golf courses worldwide with more than 53,000
golfers, male and female all playing in approximately 540 local
series to qualify for the World Final in Stuttgart.
Held in September, the World Final has been held traditionally
in Stuttgart, the "cradle of the automobile". This venue, of
course, underlines the close relations between the brand
Mercedes-Benz and golf.
The MercedesTrophy is an exclusive
series of golf tournaments held to
keep in touch with Mercedes-Benz
owners.
Dr. Olaf Göttgens, Vice President Brand Communications
Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars expresses the essence of this
relation: "We have always pointed out that our brand values harmonise
outstandingly well with the image dimensions of golf."
Over the years, the tournament has transformed from a pure
sporting extravaganza into a 'lifestyle brand experience' and is
played by distinguished achievers from all walks of life. Many of
the participants find this event a great opportunity to meet and
exchange contacts with other Mercedes-Benz owners.
The MercedesTrophy serves a long-term platform for customer
loyalty. Golf has become much more popular in recent
years and is now one of the favourite sports for both young and
old, hence it is ideal for Mercedes-Benz owners.
starEGYPT 23

STAR PROFILE
When Art and Science Meet
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH DR. EZZAT ABOU OUF
FROM THE COMFORT OF HIS HOME OVERLOOKING THE NILE, DR. EZZAT ABOU OUF GREETED
starEGYPT FOR A TRULY ENGAGING TALK.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A PRACTICING DOCTOR SHOWS THE ARTISTIC SIDE IN HIM?
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ART MEETS SCIENCE?
DR. EZZAT ABOU OUF HAS THE ANSWERS. AS YOU DELVE DEEPER INTO HIS CHARACTER,
YOU UNCOVER HIS CONFIDENT, STUBBORN AND CHALLENGING TRAITS.
FROM MEDICINE TO MUSIC,
AN UNCONVENTIONAL MOVE
Born to an artistic family, Abou Ouf‘s love for music grew with him.
His father was an officer in the Egyptian Army and at the same
time studied music theory in the University of King Farouk I. He
“My deep belief and strong will
power were what drove me
through this whole challenge and
led to the unprecedented success
of the 4M group; a success that
went on for more than 12 years.”
- Dr. Ezzat Abou Ouf
couldn’t deny his urge to pursue a career in the field he has always
and truly loved: music.
In 1979 Abou Ouf formed a band along with his four sisters: the
“4M” – a bold and courageous move that caused a stir in his family.
Naturally, he was faced with complete dissatisfaction and utter
disapproval not only from his father, but his entire family, especially
that he was leading his four sisters into this career path.
“My deep belief and strong will power were what drove me through
then became a reputed scholar of Oriental Music. Abou Ouf’s artistic
talent was nurtured within his family; however, it was always
taken to be merely a hobby as far as his father was concerned. That
is why Abou Ouf conceded to his father’s aspirations and started a
career in medicine as a gynaecologist for five years, after which he
Dr. Ezzat immersed in script reading
this whole challenge and led to the unprecedented success of the
4M group; a success that went on for more than 12 years.”
Why did the 4M earn such overwhelming success? “Because we
loved what we were doing, because we did it as a family, because
we presented something totally novel” he answered passionately.
Introducing the harmony and rhythm to the Arabic song was an
unfamiliar shift to the Arab listener back then. However, 4M was
able to revolutionise the theme of music taste in the Arab world.
24 starEGYPT starEGYPT 25

AN ACTING TALENT… UNCOVERED
“We reached the top of the world during our performance as a
group, but the day when the 4M will break up was bound to come.
And when it did, Dr. Ezzat was truly disappointed. After the break
up of the 4M in the early nineties, he ventured into the business
world and took one of his hobbies a professional step further when
he moved to Hurghada and established a diving centre there.
had this very firm belief that I will truly fit this role”, said Ezzat. On
knowing that the film was starring singers Amr Diab and Simone,
Dr. Ezzat was encouraged to take part in a film that carries a musical
side to it. And so, Dr. Ezzat started off a career in acting he had
not planned in 1992 with his debut in the film 'Ice Cream in Gleem.’
The role he played was very much similar to his very own
lifestyle that Dr. Ezzat used his personal convertible in the film.
Delving into a totally different lifestyle, it was mere coincidence that
brought him back to the world of art, lights and glamour. “Dining
once at a restaurant, I was asked to join one of the most distinguished
Egyptian directors, Khairy Besahara, at his table”,
explained Dr. Ezzat, “who unexpectedly offered me a role in his new
film”. An offer that took him by total surprise, Dr. Ezzat tried to convince
the reverent director that he has no talent for acting. “But he
His red SL 500 with flashing white interior caught the eyes of the
viewers and flaunted his performance even further.
BRINGING A FESTIVAL TO SUCCESS
Forty three years of solid experience in show business within var-
ious media channels, a deep-rooted love for art and culture, a
tremendous sense of grace, outstanding leadership capabilities
and well-rounded knowledge were more than enough traits to
drive the Minister of Culture to nominate and assign the presidency
of the Cairo International Film Festival in July 2006 to
Dr. Ezzat. Only three months before the opening night and with
strong opposition and criticism from the media, Dr. Ezzat was
faced with a tremendous responsibility. Unable to hold back his
challenging nature, he was determined to start on his quest to
make the Film Festival a success right away.
“I must admit that the sponsors of the event, along with the entire
team, have truly helped me bring the 30th Cairo International Film
Festival to perfection”, confessed Dr. Ezzat, “as the official vehicle
for the event, Mercedes-Benz in Egypt have supplied me with a
Posing with Simone alongside his SL 500 during the shooting of
“Ice cream in Gleem”
from presenting once a week to becoming a regular co-host on the
award-winning and most viewed show in the Arab world.
THE ARTISITC FLAIR RUNS
IN THE FAMILY
The Abou Ouf family seems to have strong hereditary genes for
art, music and creativity. Genes that have been passed on to
Dr. Ezzat’s son Kamal Abou Ouf, and daughter Mariam Abou Ouf,
both of whom work in the film industry. Even though they studied
Business Administration and Political Science respectively,
they both have a passion for the film industry passed on from a
family of artistic talents and achievements. Unlike his father,
Dr. Ezzat supported the decision his children made and so, they
pursue their career in graphics and film directing.
truly impressive fleet of S-Class and E-Class automobiles.”
And a success it was – one that has personally added to Dr. Ezzat
a boosted confidence, a memorable experience and an added
accomplishment.
ABOU OUF: ON AIR
Coincidence again played its role in Ezzat Abou Ouf’s career, when
he was suddenly asked to fill in for an absent presenter on the talk
show 'Cairo Today' (Al Qahira Al Yom). Being a presenter of another
program for the same channel, Abou Ouf spontaneously agreed.
Once again, his charm, likeability and well-rounded mentality and
presentation capabilities earned him another success. He went
In his red SL 500 with his beloved daughter
THE RED SL 500
WITH WHITE INTERIOR
“I have always been a fan of Mercedes-Benz; its stability,
power and design and utmost dependability simply fascinate
me”. His experience with Mercedes-Benz extends back to
when his dad owned a ‘64. In 1977, he bought a beautiful red
SL 500 cabriolet ‘77 with ivory white interior. “To this day,
the SL 500 is the best car, in my opinion, in this segment to
be ever created by Mercedes-Benz.” Ever since he sold it, in
1994, Ezzat drove nothing but 4-wheel drive automobiles.
However, after being escorted in the E-Class during the Cairo
International Film Festival this year, Dr. Ezzat decided to
break his 4-wheel drive rule and purchase a sleek E 200
KOMPRESSOR Elegance in black.
26 starEGYPT starEGYPT 27

STAR FRONT
28 starEGYPT
THE S-CLASS
PROUDLY ASSEMBLED IN EGYPT
With the dawn of the New Year, Mercedes-Benz announced that the locally assembled S-Class is finally
off the assembly line at the Egyptian German Automotive (EGA). Not only has the anticipation of exclusivity
lovers risen ever since the announcement of the locally assembled S-Class introduction, but the
demand for it as well. Chosen by some of Egypt’s most prominent social, business and political figures,
the pace-making S-Class reveals a new design idiom, very high levels of comfort, innovative
technology and a high-performance engine.
starEGYPT 29

THE EXTERIOR: GRACE FROM EVERY ANGLE
From the one-piece headlamps with their characteristic, linear shape
and the distinctive three-dimensional radiator grille to the flowing,
arching roof line, the S 500 radiates confidence and self-assurance in
every respect. Dynamically styled exterior mirrors, a powerful, elongated
body and the 5-spoke, light-alloy wheels add to the overall
impression that this is a car that transmits a definite sense of prestige
and presence. The enchanting panoramic glass sunroof creates a
wonderful open-air effect. The overall result is an extremely powerful
and graceful design with perfect proportions..
THE INTERIOR: A CLASSY WELCOME
The innovative interior architecture of the S 500 is a feast for the
eyes. The inventive and contemporary design sets the tone and is
complimented by the use of wood, fine leather and coordinated
upholstery; the perfect mix of space, comfort and style.
Quite simply, the new S-Class offers the best possible driving environment.
Each control has been intuitively placed and many of the
position. With the ever-so-comfortable dynamic multicontour
seats, equipped with air chambers in the seat cushion and backrest
which are successively inflated and deflated under cornering,
passengers can enjoy a gentle back massage which stimulates the
back muscles, assists the blood circulation and therefore helps to
prevent premature fatigue.
PERFORMANCE ON HIGHER PLANES
Pure performance takes the form of the S 500 in the locally assembled
S-Class. Forcefully fitted with a powerful V8 engine, the S 500
30 starEGYPT
car´s features such as the radio, CD/DVD changer, and mobile telephone
are operable from the multi-function steering wheel. The front
and rear seats have been designed with ergonomics as a priority and
the uncluttered dashboard display demonstrates the utmost clarity.
The latest generation COMAND (Cockpit Management and
Navigation Display) system is fitted as standard in the S 500. With
an easy-to-read eight inch display the audio, video, and telephone
can be controlled using the logically structured and intuitive menus.
TAKE A SEAT IN LUXURY
Sensuous, smooth to the touch and exceedingly comfortable, leather
comes as standard in the S-Class. Easy to clean and difficult to
scratch, it is both non-fading and water-repellent. Inviting, comfortable
and of the finest ergonomic design, the seats of the S-Class offer
a high level of opulence.
The steering wheel moves automatically to give you more room
when entering and leaving the car, and preferences can be set and
memorised to seat settings including cushion depth, angle and
entices unheard-of power and maximum torque of 530 Nm. With a
total displacement of 5461 cc, the S 500 accelerates from 0 to 100
km/h in a mere 5.4 seconds and reaches a top speed of 250 km/h.
The S 500 is fitted with the versatile 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission,
which now includes Direct Select, as standard. With seven
forward ratios this system provides the optimum gear ratio for almost
every driving condition by responding to small changes in engine
speed. The Direct Select gearshift - with steering wheel gearshift buttons
and gear selector on the steering column - allows the driver to
The inventive and contemporary design sets the tone and is perfectly
complimented by the use of wood, fine leather and coordinated
upholstery. The perfect mix of space,
comfort and style.
select gears with the minimum of fuss.
SAFETY AND INNOVATION EXCEEDING ALL EXPECTATIONS
In the field of vehicle safety, the S 500 exceeds all expectations with
the latest philosophy of achieving the highest possible degree of road
safety: PRO-SAFETM . Rather than drawing a distinction between passive
and active safety, PRO-SAFETM combines both into an new, integrated
Mercedes-Benz safety philosophy. By grouping different
aspects of automotive safety into four thematic clusters, Mercedes-
Benz takes a complete A to Z approach to safety.
The philosophy is topped off with the preventive occupant protection
system PRE-SAFE ® , whose “reflexes” respond before an
impending collision by activating protection measures for the driver
and front passenger. As a result, the seatbelts, front passenger
seat, windows and airbags provide maximum protection in the
event of a collision. Multi-contour seats are also integrated in the
PRE-SAFE ® positioning system, and automatically return to an
upright position and inflate the air bolsters.
In PERFORM-SAFE, a range of stress-relieving features and mon-
starEGYPT 31

Quite simply, the new S-Class offers the best
possible driving environment.
itoring systems such as ABS, Brake Assist, ASR and ESP ® recognise
dangerous situations on the road early and assist the driver in critical
moments. The ADAPTIVE BRAKE system with electronically-controlled
hydraulic dual-circuit brakes, the tyre pressure loss warning
system, and the multicontour seats are new additions to PERFORM-
SAFE. Occupant protective systems come under the name of PAS-
SIVE-SAFE which uses an intelligently designed body with large
impact zones and effective restraint systems including two-stage
front airbags, sidebags, windowbags and belt force limiters, and seatbelt
tensioners. As for the preventive systems for secondary accidents,
POST-SAFE prevents serious injury and ensures the rapid rescue
of vehicle occupants after an accident has occurred.
Based on infra-red light, the innovative night view assist system,
32 starEGYPT
premiered in the new S-Class, reduces the driver stress when driving
under conditions of limited visibility – but without dazzling oncoming
traffic. The scene monitored by an infrared camera is projected on an
eight-inch multifunction display in the instrument cluster. By extending
your range of vision to more than 150 metres when on low beam,
night view assist enables you to react to hazards sooner and become
more relaxed when arriving at your destination – even after a long
journey at night.
A SUPREMELY COMFORTABLE RIDE
The standard-specification AIRMATIC system offers even greater
agility and comfort for the S 500. AIRMATIC (Adaptive Intelligent
Ride System) comes with ADS (Adaptive Damping System) and controls
the shock absorbers changeover valves to keep the vehicle at the
same level in all situations. At the touch of a button the driver is able
to choose between a comfort-oriented and a sportier configuration.
Based on the echo sounder principle, PARKTRONIC is an
invaluable feature when parking in tight spaces. Sensors located
in the bumpers identify potential obstacles and warn the driver
of a potential impact via visual and acoustic warnings. Parking
hassle is reduced even further with the reversing camera which
is activated when on reverse gear and automatically projects a
black-and-white video image of the area behind the vehicle onto
the COMAND display with superimposed lines to help the driver
select the correct steering angle.
As for the KEYLESS-GO feature, it enables the driver to
unlock and start the car without having to take the key from his
pocket. If this key is in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle
when one of the door handles is grasped or the button on the
boot lid is pressed, the vehicle’s electronics will unlock the car.
The driver can then start or switch off the engine by pressing
the start/stop button.
FIRST CLASS PASSENGER SERVICE
More indulgence and luxury treat the back seat passengers thanks
to the rear seat entertainment system which comprises of two displays
integrated in the head restraints, a separate DVD player,
headphone jacks, AUX connections and a rear console panel. The
system is also fitted with a harman/kardon LOGIC7 ® surround
sound system (audio/video DVD, DTS & Dolby Digital 5.1, 14 highperformance
loudspeakers, 600-watt, 13-channel DSP amplifier).
starEGYPT 33

STAR HERITAGE
Silver Arrow
The Legendary
Masterpiece of Motor Racing History
As early as 1932, the international motor racing authority, AIACR, for safety reasons
decided to introduce the 750 kilogram formula (racing car weight without fuel, oil,
coolants and tyres). This was in an attempt to ban the ever larger and ever more powerful
and ever heavier cars from the racetracks. In compliance with the new racing requirements,
the two designers Nibel and Wagner built a new, supercharged-engine Mercedes-
Benz racing car; one which marked the beginning of the most successful racing epoch
yet in the history of Daimler-Benz. The car, well-known under its factory designation as
the W 25 - heralded the legend of the Silver Arrows and achieved a trimuphant reputation
in the history of automotive races.
1934: The legend of the Silver Arrows is
born - a winner
On the evening before the Eifel Race at the
Nürburgring the acceptance examination
took place for the cars attempting to enter
in the new 750 kg racing formula. To their
surprise, the Mercedes-Benz team's pride
and joy was one kilogram too heavy
despite its systematic lightweight design.
An overnight slimming regime was out of
the question. It was attributable to racing
manager Alfred Neubauer's courageous
decision that the legend of the Silver
Arrows was born on that day. Finally an
ingenious solution: Neubauer instructed
his mechanics to scrape off the white paint
coat from the aluminium bodywork. So, in
sweat-pouring work the paint was sanded
34 starEGYPT starEGYPT 35

off completely overnight. Showing off a
spectacular appearance of the Mercedes-
Benz car, the shining silver aluminium
beneath was exposed, the weight limit
reached, and the silver arrow was born.
Now one kilogram lighter, the first
Silver Arrow was born - a winner. From
that moment on, white went out of fashion
- the new German racing colour was silver.
On the 3rd of 1934, Manfred von
Brauchitsch won the Eifel race at the
1937: The W 125 keeps strong competition
at bay
The experience gained with the newly fortified
competitors suggested a restructuring of
the racing department - young Rudolf
Uhlenhaut became the new Chief Engineer,
and from his analysis of the W 25, the W 125
36 starEGYPT
wheel of a Mercedes W25 in record time.
A few years later, the German press
invented the legendary name "Silver
Arrow" for the Mercedes racing cars.
Strong competition from Auto Union -
their cars were, incidentally, later nicknamed
"Silverfish" - eventually prompted
the further development of the highly successful
W 25. In the course of the years, the
eight-cylinder's displacement increased
from 4.0 to 4.7 litres, and the engine devel-
emerged. The chassis was modified more
extensively than that of the supercharged
eight-cylinder engine. For weight reasons,
the idea of a completely new V12 was abandoned
again, and so the proven in-line
engine was thoroughly revised in terms of
displacement, carburettor and supercharger.
oped up to 494 hp, depending on the type of
supercharger and fuel quality.
The year 1935 was an extraordinarily
successful one for Mercedes-Benz. The
company team won nine out of ten races
with the W 25 and scored five double
victories; Rudolf Caracciola clinched
the European and German champions'
titles, and the battle with Auto Union
for the world speed record attracted
worldwide attention.
Start of the International Eifel race on the Nürburgring on June 3, 1934 The winner of this race was Manfred von Brauchitsch at the
wheel of a W 25 Mercedes-Benz formula racing car
The engines generated up to 646 hp from a
displacement of almost 5.7 litres. With the W
125, Mercedes-Benz was again a big step
ahead of all the other manufacturers in 1937.
Rudolf Caracciola regained the German
championship as well as the European
champion's title.
The highlight in this ever-so-successful
year for Mercedes-Benz was, without any
doubt, the international Avus race.
Hermann Lang, meanwhile promoted from
racing mechanic to company driver,
reached an uncontested average speed of
261.7 km/h in the final heat; the top speed
of 380 km/h in this race - a record not broken
until 1959.
1938: The three-litre formula races
Ever more powerful and ever faster: in the
culminating in three titles: the European
champion's and German hill-climb champion's
titles went to Hermann Lang;
Rudolf Caracciola won the 1939 German
road race championship with the developed
W 154. The year rouded off with a
sensational double-victory of the 1.5 litre
course of just a few years, the 750 kilogram
formula racing cars reached ever
new heights - output ratings of more than
650 hp and top speeds of over 400 km/h in
record runs called for a scaling down of
engine performance. The 3.0 litre formula
limited the displacement of supercharged
engines to 3.0 litres and that of engines
without superchargers to 4.5 litres.
Daimler-Benz retained the supercharger
principle and developed the W 154. The
W 165 at the Tripoli Grand Prix. Its
supercharged V8 engine developed a
remarkable 254 hp. After just a single
test a few days before the race, racing
manager Alfred Neubauer's team sent out
Rudolf Caracciola and Hermann Lang to
race against a superior line-up of 28
new, further developed car was based on
the W 125 but powered by a completely
new V12 with a cylinder at an angle of 60
degrees, developing 430 hp from 3.0 litres
in its initial form. It is interesting to note
that all the new three-litre cars were faster
than the clearly more powerful racing cars
entered the previous year.
1939: The year of sensational victories
The year 1939 was another exiting season
with numerous Mercedes-Benz victories
International Eifel race on June 3, 1934. The two W 25 Mercedes-Benz
formula racing cars driven by Manfred von Brauchitsch (winner) and Luigi Fagioli took the lead immediately after the start
Italian and British racing cars. Daimler-
Benz succeeded in impressively proving
its excellence with a splendid double victory
when Lang won the race ahead of
Caracciola, while the third-ranking Alfa
Romeo was one lap behind when they
crossed the finishing line.
starEGYPT 37

STAR ENTERTAINMENT STAR GLOSSARY
You don't have to travel to Germany to visit the Mercedes-Benz
Museum. Simply embark on an online tour around the museum
through the web special on the international Mercedes-Benz website
www.mercedes-benz.com.
The link to the museum takes you on a journey to discover the
evolution of the automobile in the same way it is displayed at the
Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. The clear and simple design
and feel of the web special makes you feel welcome at once, and
the rich and diversified content will keep you totally engaged. You
can explore the different rooms, themes and exhibits with the
help of a numerical guide system which helps you go from one
level to the next and out of one room into the other.
The numerical guide is the heart of the entire web special; it gives
you an instant perspective of how to navigate through the different
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The new sound of CLUB MERCEDES
After the great success of the commercial-free radio program featuring Eddie
Grant for two seasons, Club Mercedes has been face-lifted to chill out its listeners
for a third season.
From the capital of music, London, to the sizzling sound of the Big Apple –
New York – Club Mercedes now features the warm and sensual voice of Tina
Stewart. The show stands out on Cairo’s busiest night of the week with two
whole hours of global beats. Bringing music from around the world, Tina moves
listeners to the rhythms of non-stop chill out tunes.
Putting Nile FM listeners into the mood for the weekend, Club Mercedes
airs, as usual, every Thursday night from 9 to 11, commercial-free, and is sponsored
by Mercedes-Benz.
STAR ONLINE
AN ONLINE VISIT TO THE
MERCEDES-BENZ MUSEUM
levels, rooms and collections exhibited. As you move from one exhibit
to the other, you are presented with closer insights, pictures and
details on each. Throughout your journey, the guide is accessible at all
pages enabling you to know where you are in the museum.
Aside from the exhibitions, the web special features a link that
displays the personal experiences people have gained with their
Mercedes-Benz cars. You will be captivated by the tales of
Mercedes-Benz' told by their very own owners through a long list
of fascinating stories from around the world about everything from
the legendary 300 SL Gullwing to vintage Mercedes-Benz' passed
on along the generations.
In addition, you can also access facts and figures about the
opening hours and routes as well as more information about
the exhibition concept.
TECHNICAL GLOSSARY
7G-TRONIC
With its optimised shifting characteristics and
low-noise operation, the 7G-TRONIC 7-speed
automatic transmission enhances driving pleasure
and comfort significantly.
ABS
The anti-lock braking system prevents one or
more wheels from locking up under braking by
constantly analysing data from rotation sensors
on the wheels and, if necessary, cutting the
brake pressure on a wheel which is in danger of
locking. In this way, ABS ensures the directional
stability of the vehicle and maintains the driver’s
ability to steer under maximum braking.
ADAPTIVE BRAKE
The new ADAPTIVE BRAKE - an electronic brake
control system - provides traction control and
dynamic handling control. Its HOLD function holds
the car stationary without the driver needing to
stay on the brake pedal. Hill start assist prevents
the vehicle from rolling back (against the selected
gear) during the time it takes for the driver's foot to
switch from the brake pedal to the accelerator.
ADAPTIVE BRAKE also reduces the braking distances
in wet conditions by drying the brake discs,
or by bringing the brake pads into slight contact
with the brake discs as soon as the driver’s foot is
abruptly removed from the accelerator.
ADS (Adaptive Damping System)
The Adaptive Damping System ADS II is a
fully automatic, electronically controlled system
which calculates and adjust the damping
force at each wheel in response to the
requirements of the instant Ride comfort and
stability are further enhanced by the ADS II
Adaptive Damping System which produces
particularly good results in combination with
the air suspension system.
AIRMATIC
Compared to conventional steel suspension, the
AIRMATIC air suspension offers significant
advances in terms of both road roar and tyre
vibration as well as driving safety.
AIRSCARF
Neck-level heating system keeps the area
around the neck and head pleasantly warm,
allowing you to enjoy open-top motoring even
in cooler weather.
ASR
Acceleration Skid Control, also referred to as
traction control, works in a similar fashion to
ABS, the difference being that it prevents the
wheels from spinning when the vehicle is
starting off. Makes it easier to pull away
smoothly without any rear-end twitch on slippery
surfaces.
Automatic child-seat recognition function
Activation of the front passenger airbag will be
cancelled if a Mercedes-Benz child seat with
transponder is attached to the front passenger seat.
Belt force limiters
Works in unison with the front airbag to reduce
the load exerted on the seat occupant by the belt
strap. In this case, the airbag absorbs some of
the deceleration forces which are spread over a
greater area as a result.
BLUETEC
BLUETEC is a modular emissions control system
that reduces nitrogen oxides in particular.
These are exhaust components from
diesel engines, which, as a result of the constraints
inherent in the diesel combustion
process, exceed the levels generated by
petrol engines.
Brake Assist
When BAS detects an emergency stop situation, it
automatically builds up maximum braking pressure
if you press the brake paddle down quickly
but without enough force.
COMAND
The COMAND cockpit management allows you
to operate all audio, telematics and telecommunication
functions from a single control
and display unit.
DIRECT SELECT
The DIRECT SELECT gearshift which was first
implemented in the new M-Class in combination
with 7G-TRONIC also ensures a high standard
of shifting comfort and optimum agility
in the new S-Class where it is fitted as standard.
It is entirely up to drivers to choose
whether to leave the gear changes to the automatic
transmission or to change gear themselves
by means of the DIRECT SELECT shift
buttons on the steering wheel.
ESP ®
The Electronic Stability Program (ESP ® ) stabilises
the vehicle in critical situations – especially when
cornering or taking sudden evasive action by
applying the brakes to individual wheels and
adjusting engine power as required.
KEYLESS-GO
Thanks to the radio-frequency communication
between the KEYLESS-GO key and the vehicle
electronics, this electronic key allows you to
open the door without actually using the key,
but only by taking hold of the door handle. The
key also doesn't need to be put in the ignition,
the engine can be started using a button on the
selector lever in the centre console.
LOGIC7 ®
Audio system with multi-channel, three-dimensional
sound technology.
Multicontour seats
Multicontour seats offer excellent comfort on
long journeys by being able to adapt individually
to the occupant's stature or preferred
comfort settings.
PARKTRONIC
PARKTRONIC helps the driver when parking
and maneuvering in restricted spaces. At
speeds up to about 15 km/h, visible and/or
audible signals provide warning of the proximity
of obstacles.
Passive Safety
Refers to all constructions and protective functions
which reduce the risk of injury to the vehicle's
occupants in the event of an accident.
Keywords here include crumple zone, rigid passenger
cell, seat belt, head restraint and the proper
securing of loads.
PASSIVE-SAFE
The term PASSIVE-SAFE is used to refer to
any measures which are able to provide
appropriate passenger protection in response
to a collision, with the most notable examples
being effective restraint systems or an intelligently
designed body with an extra-rigid passenger
cell.
PERFORM-SAFE
PERFORM-SAFE comprises of all measures
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which are able to recognise hazards before
they fully develop and warn drivers accordingly.
These include the active safety systems,
such as ABS, BAS, BAS PLUS, ASR or ESP ® ,
which are able to come to the driver's aid in
critical handling situations.
POST-SAFE
POST-SAFE covers those measures which
help to minimise the consequences of an
accident by expediting the rescue of the
vehicle's occupants.
PRE-SAFE ®
PRE-SAFE ® denotes anticipatory occupant protection.
This includes all the precautionary
measures which are able to take effect as soon
as a risk of collision is detected, such as closing
the sunroof automatically or pulling the
front seatbelts taut.
DID YOU KNOW THAT?
The C-Class remains the bestseller in the Mercedes-Benz model
range. More than two million units have been delivered to customers
all around the world since the launch of the current
series in May 2000, making today’s lineup of this model — consisting
of Sedan, Station Wagon and Sports Coupé the best-selling
C-Class in the history of the company. Dr. Klaus Maier, the
Executive Vice President Mercedes Car Group responsible for
sales and marketing, said: “The C-Class has achieved excellent
sales over its entire lifecycle and is our best-selling model
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PRO-SAFE
Encompasses all measures which are able to
protect the vehicle's occupants and other road
users before, during and after an accident. This
Mercedes-Benz safety philosophy comprises
the modules PERFORM-SAFE (active safety),
PRE-SAFE ® (anticipatory occupant protection),
PASSIVE-SAFE (passive safety), POST-SAFE
(systems and measures which are deployed
after an accident).
Seat-belt tensioners
When activated, instantly pulls a loose belt
strap taut against the upper body to secure the
occupant in the seat as firmly as possible.
Sidebags
In the event of a side impact , the sidebags inflate
between the doors and the occupants. This drastically
reduces the load on the occupants.
The C-Class continues to be the best seller of the
Mercedes-Benz product range
Steel roll-over bars
The roll-over bars are extended automatically when
the roll-over sensor detects a risk of the vehicle
rolling over. It will be activated in response and popup
automatically, playing a vital role in minimising
the consequences of any accident.
Two-stage front airbags
Both the driver's and front passenger airbags
feature two-stage activation: only one stage may
be ignited in more minor collisions, inflating the
airbag to a lower pressure. If the vehicle is
involved in a more serious accident, the second
stage could be ignited too, depending on the particular
situation.
Windowbags
This additional restraint system reduces the risk of
head injuries to the driver, front passenger and outer
rear passengers in the event of a side collision
series. It combines comfort and elegant design with the highest
standards of safety and sets the benchmark for the entire midsized
premium car segment.”
With around 1.4 million units sold since the market launch
in May 2000 the C-Class Sedan has continued its predecessors’
success story. Since spring 2001, some 330,000 customers
have decided on the Station Wagon. The Sports Coupé,
which joined the model family in spring 2001, has logged up
283,000 sales to date.