Latest news with #Manufaktur
ArabGT
06-08-2025
- Automotive
- ArabGT
Mercedes G-Class Reaches an Unbreakable Milestone in Production
Mercedes-Benz is celebrating a moment that's nothing short of legendary: the production of the 600,000th G-Class. More than just a number, it's a powerful reminder that some icons don't fade—they evolve, adapt, and become even more relevant with time. This landmark G-Class didn't roll quietly off the line. It made its debut in Graz, Austria—where every G has been built for over four decades—emerging as an all-electric G580 EQ wrapped in sleek Volcanic Black Metallic. A perfect fusion of heritage and innovation, it signals a bold new chapter for one of the most revered off-roaders ever made. Since it first hit the road in 1979, the G-Class has earned the nickname 'Iron Lady' for a reason. It's a vehicle that's refused to compromise—maintaining its unmistakable form and fearless spirit while constantly evolving under the skin. Today, it's more than just an SUV; it's a status symbol, a companion for adventure, and a canvas for self-expression. And that's part of what makes the G-Class truly special. It's not just about performance specs or off-road chops (though it has plenty). It's about how deeply personal the experience can be. Thanks to the Manufaktur customization program, buyers can shape their G-Class to reflect their own style. Since 2019, over 90% of G-Class owners have gone the custom route, with each vehicle featuring an average of three tailored elements. The result? More than a million design possibilities—and millions of unique stories. The G-Class has come a long way since its humble beginnings. Originally built as a rugged, practical vehicle with modest engines and multiple body styles, it's grown into a luxury powerhouse—without ever losing the soul that made it legendary. It still features a tough ladder-frame chassis, full-time four-wheel drive, and three locking differentials—mechanical roots that keep it true to its purpose. Visually, the G hasn't strayed far from its origins. From the boxy shape and round headlights to the exposed tailgate hinges and spare wheel, every detail feels familiar and iconic. It doesn't need a badge to declare what it is—you just know it's a G-Class. With the 600,000th model now out in the world, Mercedes isn't just looking back—it's moving forward, stronger than ever. Every new G-Class that rolls off the line continues to build on a legacy that's spanned deserts, scaled mountains, and carved out a place in the hearts of drivers everywhere.
7NEWS
06-08-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
Mercedes-Benz debuts $27,000 trim, $24,000 paint options in Australia
Mercedes-Benz is expanding its customisation options in Australia, where some of its most expensive models are now available with an array of new exterior and interior options… each with a hefty price tag. Marketed under the Manufaktur Exclusive banner, there are 50 new exterior colours and 20 new interior upholstery options. There's an array of tasteful options, from rich violet exterior paints to elegant emerald upholstery. However, the Manufaktur Exclusive range also includes lurid green and orange exterior finishes, and bright yellow and Kermit the Frog-style green upholstery options. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Manufaktur Exclusive upholstery options are now available for the Mercedes-Benz S580L and Mercedes-Maybach S680 limousines, and carry a price tag of $27,600 – or more than an entry-level Chery Tiggo 4 small SUV. Not only that, but to get one of them with the S580L, you have to also tick the option box for the Business Class Package ($13,100) or Manufaktur Exclusive Interior Package ($4600). There are 20 new upholstery combinations available, including two-tone options. Manufaktur Exclusive exterior finishes are available across not only these two luxury limos, but also the Mercedes-AMG SL63 Roadster and GT63 Coupe. These carry a price tag of $24,300. There are more than 50 finishes available, including solid, metallic, Magno and Bright options. Mercedes-Benz says many of these have been 'carefully selected from a repertoire of past special models and customer requests, while others are drawn from the Mercedes-Benz design archive'. 'Whether customers favour timeless sophistication or bold individuality, the Manufaktur palette offers a level of expression beyond the ordinary,' the company says. Of course, Mercedes-Benz isn't alone among luxury brands in offering expensive customisation options. Porsche, for example, offers Exclusive Manufaktur Paint to Sample options costing upwards of $20,000, with over 190 colours available.
Car and Driver
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
2026 Mercedes-AMG CLA45 S Final Edition Bids Farewell
The 2026 Mercedes-AMG CLA45 S Final Edition marks the end of the line for the second-generation CLA and its sporty AMG-tuned variant. The Final Edition pairs Mountain Grey Magno paint with yellow accents and loud "45 S" graphics on the front doors. The Final Edition will be offered in limited numbers starting in early 2026; pricing hasn't yet been announced. Mercedes-Benz is gearing up to launch the new third-generation 2026 CLA-class, starting this fall with the fully electric CLA EV before adding a new hybrid CLA-class sedan in early 2026. But Mercedes's performance division, AMG, has yet to work its magic on the new CLA, and before it does, it has revealed a send-off for the current CLA45 S in the form of a new Final Edition. The 2026 Mercedes-AMG CLA45 S Final Edition will be available in limited numbers—although the automaker didn't specify just how many—when it reaches dealerships early next year. The Final Edition wears Mountain Grey Magno paint from the brand's Manufaktur personalization program and is further distinguished by a black-and-yellow "45 S" graphic on the front doors. Yellow accents are also found on the sideview mirrors. Mercedes-Benz The 19-inch wheels are painted matte black with yellow accents surrounding the center caps. The black brake calipers have AMG logos. The Final Edition also has the AMG Night package, bringing gloss-black and black-chrome exterior trim. The AMG Aerodynamics Package Plus is also fitted, bringing a beefier front splitter, small dive planes on the front bumper, a sizable rear wing, and a gloss-black rear diffuser. There is also a special silver chrome fuel cap adorned with AMG lettering. The yellow touches continue inside, where the Final Edition features black AMG Performance seats upholstered in microsuede and Mercedes's MB-Tex synthetic leather. There is yellow stitching throughout the cabin, and the front headrests sport an embroidered "45 S" logo. There is also a "45 S Final Edition" on the center console, an illuminated AMG badge on the door sills, "45 S" branding on the floor mats, and more yellow accents on the nappa leather and microfiber steering wheel. Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz The powertrain remains unchanged, with the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder pumping out 416 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. Mercedes claims the CLA45 S can rip from zero to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds en route to a 155-mph top speed. But we bet it's even quicker. When we tested a 2020 CLA45, back when it had only 382 hp, it did the dash in just 3.7 seconds. Shifting duties are handled by an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, and the CLA45's standard all-wheel-drive system can send all of the power to the rear wheels for tail-happy antics. While the 2026 CLA45 S Final Edition marks the end of the line for the second-generation sporty sedan, Mercedes is surely cooking up a hotter version of the new third-generation model. Spy photos have captured a new CLA wearing an active rear wing, redesigned bumpers, and camouflage on the front fenders where an AMG badge typically goes. We expect AMG to fiddle with both the hybrid and electric CLA-class sedans, and we shouldn't have to wait too much longer for a full reveal. Caleb Miller Associate News Editor Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Rupee slide fuels Mercedes-Benz price hike
Mercedes-Benz India faced a 13% increase in cost over the past year as the rupee continued to weaken against the euro, inflating the cost of imported parts. The Indian arm of the German luxury carmaker, which imports about 70% of its components, responded with calibrated price hikes, Santosh Iyer , managing director, Mercedes-Benz India told ET. Still, the automaker is noting a trend among Indian customers to splurge, not just on base luxury car models, but on bespoke customisations that often add ₹60 lakh to ₹1.5 crore to a car's price tag. Mercedes-Benz India raised car prices twice this year—one in January and another in June—with a third planned for September, said Iyer. The rupee breached the psychologically significant ₹100 mark against the euro only earlier this week. 'We've only passed on about 3% to the market but the rupee depreciation has raised our costs by nearly 13%. The gap is getting harder to absorb,' he said. Indian luxury car buyers are however undeterred by the elevated price tags. More than 70% of the company's top-end vehicles (TEV), priced above Rs1.5 crore, are being customised through its 'Manufaktur' programme, among the highest globally for Mercedes-Benz. Manufaktur is the cross-brand personalisation range for exclusive exterior equipment and high-quality interior equipment. Mercedes buyers in India are opting for hand-picked wood trims, exotic leather options, and bespoke paintwork, often pushing the price of already top-end vehicles like the AMG GT 63 or Maybach S-Class significantly higher. On Friday, the company unveiled two new sports cars from its 'GT Family'—the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 4MATIC with a dealership price of Rs3 crore, and the track-focused Mercedes-AMG GT 63 PR at Rs3.65 crore. "Customisation is not just about indulgence anymore; it's about value perception,' said Iyer. 'Customers see Nappa leather or special trim as worth the premium — even with the currency hit.' The surge in personalised luxury comes even as Mercedes-Benz continues to localise high-volume models—from the A-Class to the Maybach S580—to buffer some of the forex impact. The recently-launched E-Class sedan, for instance, features fully-localised glazing components for the first time, said Iyer. Still, high-value items like powertrains, infotainment systems, and electronics remain heavily Euro-dependent, making price hikes almost inevitable if the rupee remains at current levels. Despite the higher prices, sales of TEV models grew at an estimated 10-12% on-year in the first five months of 2025. This was boosted by a mix of thriving capital markets, resilient consumer sentiment, and lower borrowing costs passed on through the automaker's captive non-bank lending company. Recent reduction in interest rates by the Reserve Bank of India helped the NBFC to further cut the cost of borrowing, which it passed on to buyers. 'We are trying to mitigate that (higher prices of cars) with these special EMIs," said Iyer.
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Rupee slide fuels Mercedes-Benz price hike
Mercedes-Benz India faced a 13% increase in cost over the past year as the rupee continued to weaken against the euro, inflating the cost of imported parts. The Indian arm of the German luxury carmaker, which imports about 70% of its components, responded with calibrated price hikes, Santosh Iyer, managing director, Mercedes-Benz India told ET. Still, the automaker is noting a trend among Indian customers to splurge, not just on base luxury car models, but on bespoke customisations that often add ₹60 lakh to ₹1.5 crore to a car's price tag. Mercedes-Benz India raised car prices twice this year—one in January and another in June—with a third planned for September, said Iyer. The rupee breached the psychologically significant ₹100 mark against the euro only earlier this week. 'We've only passed on about 3% to the market but the rupee depreciation has raised our costs by nearly 13%. The gap is getting harder to absorb,' he said. Indian luxury car buyers are however undeterred by the elevated price tags. More than 70% of the company's top-end vehicles (TEV), priced above Rs1.5 crore, are being customised through its 'Manufaktur' programme, among the highest globally for Mercedes-Benz. Manufaktur is the cross-brand personalisation range for exclusive exterior equipment and high-quality interior equipment. Mercedes buyers in India are opting for hand-picked wood trims, exotic leather options, and bespoke paintwork, often pushing the price of already top-end vehicles like the AMG GT 63 or Maybach S-Class significantly higher. On Friday, the company unveiled two new sports cars from its 'GT Family'—the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 4MATIC with a dealership price of Rs3 crore, and the track-focused Mercedes-AMG GT 63 PR at Rs3.65 crore. "Customisation is not just about indulgence anymore; it's about value perception,' said Iyer. 'Customers see Nappa leather or special trim as worth the premium — even with the currency hit.' The surge in personalised luxury comes even as Mercedes-Benz continues to localise high-volume models—from the A-Class to the Maybach S580—to buffer some of the forex impact. The recently-launched E-Class sedan, for instance, features fully-localised glazing components for the first time, said Iyer. Still, high-value items like powertrains, infotainment systems, and electronics remain heavily Euro-dependent, making price hikes almost inevitable if the rupee remains at current levels. Despite the higher prices, sales of TEV models grew at an estimated 10-12% on-year in the first five months of 2025. This was boosted by a mix of thriving capital markets, resilient consumer sentiment, and lower borrowing costs passed on through the automaker's captive non-bank lending company. Recent reduction in interest rates by the Reserve Bank of India helped the NBFC to further cut the cost of borrowing, which it passed on to buyers. 'We are trying to mitigate that (higher prices of cars) with these special EMIs," said Iyer.
