Distracted in recent times by the underachieving Chrysler Group, DaimlerChrysler AG has almost forgotten about that German luxury vehicle maker Mercedes-Benz. Following the sale of the troubled American car manufacturer, DaimlerChrysler AG announced that they will now focus on the expansion of the Mercedes-Benz brand and products and make it once again the most profitable luxury car manufacturer in the world. DaimlerChrysler's Chief Executive Officer Dieter Zetsche said in an interview that the German firm will "focus more on the top line, on the creation of our business going forward and less on the repairs".
Mercedes-Benz is currently being left behind by fellow German luxury car manufacturer BMW. In order to catch up with the Bavarian car maker, Mercedes-Benz needs to increase sales as soon as they can. In order to catch up with BMW, DaimlerChrysler announced that they will be expanding the market for Mercedes-Benz on growing auto markets like Russia, Eastern Europe, China and India. It can be remembered that many car manufacturers have already announced their interest to enter the said growing car markets.
Aside from expending their market, the DaimlerChrysler AG is also expected to increase their offering in the select market across the globe. Aside from expending their lineup, Mercedes-Benz is also expected to continually improve their existing auto models such as the Mercedes-Benz C350. The luxury sedan was recently unveiled by the German carmaker. The redesign for the 2008 model year is a strong statement that Mercedes-Benz is back on the path to become a serious competitor in its class.
True to its Mercedes-Benz bloodline, the new C350 is a combination of performance and luxury. Powering this luxury car is a 3.0-liter direct overhead cam 24-valve V6 engine. This powerplant can produce as much as 228 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. With that engine, the that comes with it would have to be efficient to provide the fuel that the engine needs. While the C350 was once offered with a 2.5-liter V6 engine which has an output of 201 horsepower, for the 2008 model year, that engine will not be offered in the United States. Instead, the German car manufacturer is planning to introduce a diesel engine with the C350 in the United States. That will have to wait though since there are still issues about emission standards set by the different states. Once all fifty states approved the diesel engine, Mercedes-Benz will be offering them in the country. This step is surely a sign that DaimlerChrysler is focusing once again on the luxury division.
