Mercedes-Benz Thailand Magazine 4/2013 (Eng)

Issue 04·2013

Mercedes-Benz

mercedes-benz.com

issn

1617–6677

04·2013

sheer brilliance On the road with the S-Class, the best car in the world

Doha Consummate craftsmanship Hyperloop

laureus can help Rio: How soccer teaches kids life lessons

buddi ng talent DTM at 19: Pascal Wehrlein is on the offensive

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Tracks in the sand b e e n t h e r e , d o n e t h at,

PHotos  cover: Anatol Kot te, Jan Friese, Thomas Hoeffgen; this page: Fr ank Bauer

got the T-shirt. That sums up a lot of vacations these days.

We prefer to send our writers on journeys where they can experience as much as possible, so that we can offer our readers a compact travel guide that points up not just the main sights but also lesser-known attractions off the beaten track. For this issue we chose Doha, the capital of Qatar (page 64). Amid its skyscrapers, vast sports stadia and man-made islands, we discovered the authentic, tradition-steeped side of an intriguing metropolis.

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PHOTOS Anatol Kotte, Jan Friese, Daimler AG, Esad Cicic, Frank Bauer, Thomas Hoeffgen

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Check-in

Hands off the wheel

S for sensational

P.S.

Mobility and innovation: ­­ show ­cars from video games and doppelgangers from a 3D printer

Driving safely without a driver with the S 500 Intelligent Drive

The Concept S-Class Coupe and its legendary forerunners

Community gardening injects life and colour into grey cities

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058

076

Waiting isn’t his strong suit

Cool clicks

He says, she says

How the high-speed Hyperloop could revolutionize rail travel

Pascal Wehrlein, the youngest DTM driver in history, on present pressures and idols from the past

Mercedes: the latest from the social networks and the rest of the Internet

Andreas and Shabnam test-drive the GLK 220 in Kitzbühel and on the surrounding mountain roads

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Arriving in the future

Power play

After a day with the new S-Class, one thing is clear: autonomous driving is not very far off

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Tube travel

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030

Perfectly crafted How manufacturers labor to perfect their products

Emotion

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Icons

New regulations will alter the character of Formula 1 races from 2014

Design, art and fashion: spooky lamps and a hotel at the end of the world

Speed: measuring the pace of nature and everyday life

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064

School of life

Castles in the sand

How the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation is preparing kids in a Brazilian favela for the future

Doha is a futuristic oasis between the desert and the sea – but it cherishes its traditions

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Intro fyi Technical specifications p u b l icati o n d etai l s M o me n ts 7

d e s i g n

s t u d y

Race track rivalry SPEED AND ELEGAN C E

are two attributes that have seldom been combined as successfully as in the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo show car, with its short front overhang, elongated engine hood and rounded driver’s cabin merging seamlessly into the drop-shaped rear end.

Bursting with power and yet endowed with delicate contours, the gull-wing vehicle embodies the current Mercedes philosophy, described by head of design Gorden Wagener as “sensuous clarity”. The study can be admired live at the LA Auto Show until December 1. And you can also experience this sporty creation in action – though unfortunately not on a full 1:1 scale, but as part of the latest Gran Turismo 6 video game developed for PlayStation 3.

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C h e c k - i n

David Edwards is a bioengineer and professor at Harvard University. In Paris he set up Le Laboratoire, a meeting point for artists and scientists, where he has been developing such things as inhalable chocolate and edible food packaging.

Louvre 2.0

m o r e t h a n eight million visitors flock to the Louvre in Paris every year. Now it has a

illustration Lyndon Hayes/Dutchuncle photos daimler ag (1), T winkind Rendering Louvre Abu Dhabi (3)

sister museum on an island off Abu Dhabi – and the signs are that even the building itself is going to prove a similar magnet. Due for completion by 2015, the huge dome designed by architect Jean Nouvel has a most unusual feature: the internal lighting comes exclusively from apertures in the roof. It already faces competition in the form of Frank Gehry’s nearby Guggenheim Museum. lou v r ea bu dh a bi . a e Mr. Edwards, how exactly does your “WikiPearl” edible packaging work?

It’s a bit like the skin on a grape. It’s made of biopolymers such as algin – an algae extract – and salts such magnesium, as well as flavoring elements like oils, cocoa or caviar. We use it to package yogurt, juice, ice cream, etc. The coverings make them easy to transport, and they can even be washed. In shops the balls are sold in packaging that isn’t edible but is completely biodegradable.

How can people suddenly be persuaded to eat packaging?

A lot of people want a healthier world, but without making any sacrifices. That’s why our idea has to be more than just environmentally friendly – it also has to offer something better than current packaging. That works immediately in the case of ice cream because it no longer melts in your hand. But in the case of champagne, you first have to learn to drink out of a ball.

How did you hit on the idea?

I worked for years in South Africa and was able to observe the growing mountains of plastic waste outside cities like Johannesburg. I began to realize that it was high time we came up with a new solution to the problem.

Is eating and drinking out of balls a science or an art?

It’s an innovation. To achieve something like that calls for collaboration between dreamers and doers.

A u t o m o t i v e d i c t i o n a r y

KIS tech|nol|ogy, noun; a Daimler production technology that combines compression and injection molding, enabling the manufacture of trim components that are up to 50% lighter than conventionallyproduced parts.

I n n o v a t i o n

Doppelganger a M i n i - M e figure is a threedimensional doll. In the past, you had to pose for hours while the doll was made, but now Hamburg-based company Twinkind can produce these miniatures in seconds by simultaneously photographing the customer from all sides.

A computer then calculates a model and prints it out on a 3D printer, layer by layer, using polymer clay. Your colored Mini-Me can measure between 15 and 35 centimeters (around 6 to 14 inches) and comes with realistic detail right down to the creases in your clothes. t w i n k i n d . com 9

38°

44'

1,77''

s,

143°

41'

14 ,17 ' '

E

perth

southern australia melbourne great ocean road tasmania

Torquay Allansford

from to

d i s ta n c e 243 kilometers (150 miles) d u r at i o n 3.5 hours B e s t t i m e o f d ay Dawn

t h e g r e a t o c e a n R o a d runs along the

coast of the Australian state of Victoria and is regularly voted one of the world’s most beautiful roads. Towering tree ferns, waterfalls and eucalyptus trees fringe this route along the precipitous coastline. If you drive along it during sunrise or sunset, you may see kangaroos and even – at the 12 Apostle Rocks in Port Campbell National Park – penguin colonies. If you start from Torquay, you have a clear view across the Southern Ocean and the straits separating Australia from Tasmania. v isitgr eatocea n roa d . org . au

a ppD a t e

Downloads for travelers i n t r o u b l e over a ring that has been lost

on the beach? The Metal Detector app can help, as it identifies gold and other metals using the smartphone compass program and picking up changes in electromagnetic fields.

Find.Eat. Drink.

Chefs and foodies recommend restaurants and bars.

10

Swingboat calculates sea swell and the position of your vessel.

Where’s Dad shows kids facts about places their father goes to on business trips.

300,000 K i l o m e t e r s (around 186,000 miles)

per second – the equivalent of 30 centimeters (12 in.) per billionth of a second – is the speed it takes for a GPS signal to travel to Earth from a satellite. The receiver in a satnav system, for example, uses data from several satellites to calculate its precise location. Accuracy depends on the position of the satellite and the time the signals are sent. The satnav can use the arrival time to calculate how long the signal has taken and how far it has come. The so-called time-stamp of the signal must be accurate to within a billionth of a second. That is why GPS satellites contain cesium atomic clocks.

C h e c k - i n

c u r r e n t l y pl a y i n g . . .

Apps App Store by Apple for Iphone, Ipod Touch and Ipads photos Get t y Images, Visum, Action press, Diogenes Verl ag

Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan

S t u d e n t S e r e n a is recruited by the

British secret service MI5 in 1972 for a mission code-named “Sweet Tooth”. As part of the battle for hearts and minds, the operation is targeted at intellectuals who are critical of Communism, and Serena is instructed to make contact with author Tom Haley, with whom she soon falls in love. Ian McEwan’s story of intrigue, love and betrayal displays his usual combination of sharp observation, English humor and unexpected twists. a m a zon . com

“to have a chance in life, you have to be selfconfident – or at least act that way. It sounds like a cliche, but opportunities don’t just offer themselves up – you have to grasp them with both hands.” sheryl sandberg, coo of facebook

o n c e

i n

a

l i f e t i m e . . .

1

2

… Experience zero gravity

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HOW IS IT DONE? In a special Boeing 727 that flies in a parabola, at the top of which you are weightless for 22 seconds.

Press the floor with a finger and you float effortlessly to the ceiling!

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS? Anyone can do it, provided they are over 18 and in good health. Oh… and they should have a strong stomach! where can you book?

The Zero Gravity Corporation (gozerog.com) offers flights in various cities in the USA. 11

Original and fake A GLEAMING SAFETY C ELL , no doors, a 55 kW electric motor –

these are what make the smart fourjoy special. The study previews a new generation of cars with room for four people in a space some 3.5 meters (11.5 ft) in length. Can you find four differences between the two photos?

FOUR DIFFERENCES can be found in this picture: the handle and smart logo are missing at the access point, the backseat lacks the prominent cut-out section, and the roof spoiler is too long.

filter and funnel

water tank

t h i s P h o t o f l o w C o l l e c t o r made by Mexican company NOS is designed to

solve two problems in developing countries: the lack of drinking water and the unreliable electricity supply. Solar cells are grouped together to form an extensive catchment area that captures sunlight from every angle and at the same time directs rain water into the center, where it collects in an antibacterial container with a capacity of up to 400 liters (105 US gallons). A prototype of the Photoflow is currently undergoing testing. nos . m x

A r c h i t e c t u r e

Hooked THE l o w e r HATEA River bridge in Whangarei, New Zealand, features two massive fish hooks, which not only make the bridge immediately recognizable but also symbolize a safe water crossing in Maori culture. k n ighta rch itects . co . u k

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eat organic This disposable cutlery is modeled on the shapes of artichoke or pineapple leaves – so it makes sense that it is also manufactured exclusively from plantderived raw materials. ca rgocollecti v e . com /q i y u n

photos Fotolia , daimler ag, NOS, Patrick Reynolds, Qiyun K wada/ECAL School

Doubly good

Solar cells

Time trial

Not to be missed!

t i m e has always been of the essence in motorsports. A R50-TN by B.R.M. may

R ac e o f c h a m pi o n s

D E C E M B E R 14 / 15 , 2 013

not give you that crucial tenth of a second advantage over the competition, but it certainly gives you the feeling of having a miniature high-performance engine on your wrist. The watch mechanism itself underlines the association, with the left-hand side reminiscent of a cylinder. And the three triangular suspension points made of carbon fiber, the perforated, apparently weightoptimized hands and the 50-millimeter (2-inch) titanium casing leave no doubt that time is valuable. brm - manufacture . com

Who is the world’s best racing driver?

Once again rally, touring car and Formula 1 drivers will be jockeying for position. Among them will be world-record-holder and former Mercedes AMG Petronas driver Michael Schumacher. Like Sebastian Vettel, he won the ROC Nations Cup six years in succession. The Race of Champions will take place in Bangkok, like last year.

J AN UARY 5 – 18 , 2 014

da k a r r a lly

The Dakar Rally is the most famous desert race in the world. This marathon event was launched in 1978 under the title of Paris Dakar Rally and since 2009 has been held in South America. Jacky Ickx was the winner in 1983 – in a Mercedes-Benz G-Class.

F E BR UARY 5 – 9 , 2 014

r é t ro m o b i l e pa r i s

Stylish tribute to speed NIGHT OF THE LONG K NIVES : One of the reasons the Monte Carlo Rally is so famous is its use of

nicknames for the individual stages. From January 22–29, 2014, fans will be able to see automotive heroes from the past in action in the 17th Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique. The event is open to all the vehicle types that took part in the years between 1955 and 1980. The rally begins in six European cities, including Barcelona, Glasgow and Oslo, and converges on Port Hercules, the harbor of Monaco, on January 28. acm . mc

SPEEDY RACING COUPE The CLA 45 AMG Racing Series is a study that could soon be mixing it with other 2.0-liter turbocharged vehicles in various races.

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Fans of classic cars will long since have underlined this date in their diaries. The Paris exhibition is regarded as one of the leading events of its kind in Europe. This year, Mercedes-Benz showcased the famous record-winning 200 HP “Blitzen-Benz” of 1909.

The company will be exhibiting further highlights in 2014.

M ARC H 5 – 16 , 2 014

g e n e va m o t o r s h ow

For the 84th year running, automobile fans will be flocking to the exhibition center in Geneva, Switzerland, at the beginning of March 2014. For most brands this is the occasion traditionally used to unveil their latest creations.

2013, for example, saw the world premiere of the A 45 AMG. So there’s plenty to look forward to!

zero gravity or doppelgangers straight from the 3D printer: we have put together further information on the Check-in topics for you online. Simply use your smartphone app to scan the QR Code.

m b - q r . c o m /0e s

phOTOS B.R.M., Daimler AG (2)

SPEED AND ELEGAN C E Ewy Rosqvist-von Korff (left) and Ursula Wirth won the Ladies Cup in the 1963 Monte Carlo Rally.

Elon Musk can’t help but stir things up. That’s the impression one gets from reading his biography, anyway. When entire industries were banging their collective heads against the wall trying to figure out how to make money with the Internet, Musk was already earning millions through the payment service PayPal. Then he founded SpaceX, a venture aimed at privatizing space travel, as well as investing in electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors – in which Daimler also holds a stake. With his latest project, Musk has set his sights on revolutionizing train travel. His “Hyperloop” concept is a combined pneumatic tube and high-speed train. Musk designed a plan for a route connecting Los Angeles and San Francisco. Inside a gigantic tube, passenger capsules would be suspended upon a friction-minimizing cushion of compressed air, with electromagnets providing the necessary forward propulsion. In this way, the capsules could be accelerated to around 1,200 km/h (750 mph).

To reduce the enormous air resistance, the air pressure inside the tube would be greatly decreased. In addition, Musk plans to install solar panel modules on the tube structure which would generate more energy than the system itself would consume.

Sounds crazy? Of course it does. But people said the same thing about Musk’s earlier projects.

Tube travel

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or 0.2 – 0.5 inches is the AIR CUSHION “thickness” upon which the passenger capsules will float, thus minimizing friction.

will ride the HYPERLOOP per year.

Reaching that figure will require one 28-seat capsule to accelerate through the tube every two minutes.

less AIR RESISTANCE will exist inside the Hyperloop compared to outside it.

0.5–1g

is the estimated cost for REALIZATION of the project.

Compared to similar transportation proposals, this high-speed train is a real bargain.

1,000 times

7.4 million passengers

0.5–1.3 mm

35 min will be the TRAVEL TIME from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

That’s a clear improvement over conventional trains, which can take up to nine hours.

6,000,000,000 USD

renderings tesl amotors

or 760 mph is the TOP SPEED the capsules are projected to attain. At that rate, they will be traveling just 15 km/h (9 mph) slower than the speed of sound.

0.014 psi

1,220 km / h

i n n o v a t i o n

is the maximum ACCELERATION that passengers will be subjected to. Given its proposed operating speed, the Hyperloop’s curves will have to be minimal.

is the AIR PRESSURE inside the tube – just onehundredth of Earth’s normal air pressure.

Like airplanes, the capsules will have to be pressurized.

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Arriving in

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w o r d s M I C H A e l M o o r s t e dt

p h o t o s a n at o l ko t t e

d r i v e

a car that almost drives itself. A day with the new luxury Sedan from Mercedes-Benz highlights how intelligent technology redefines our time on the road and ensures an extremely relaxed driving feeling.

the future

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Sweeping silhouette, harmonious proportions

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d r i v e

t

his was a car that would attract attention of the covetous variety, that much was clear. There were the youngsters – courteous enough to ask permission – posing for a photo. And there was the older man at the filling station earlier, who gave me a nod of acknowledgement as I climbed back in. That was a feel-good moment, I’ll admit. This, though, was something else.

We’d only been away from the car for 15 minutes to grab a coffee, but we returned to find a business card lodged in the gap between the doors. The scribbled note contained an air of desperation: “Cash paid! Now or later! Call any time!” Of all the cars in the parking lot, our anonymous admirer had nailed his colors to this mast. But after half a day on the road in the new S-Class, there was no way I was going to sell it, even if it had been mine to sell. After all, this is not just any old car, it’s the pinnacle of automotive engineering; put simply, it’s the best car in the world.

We set off from Munich Airport early in the morning. Our job is to present the car with every situation a central European driver will encounter on a day-to-day basis. As the day progresses, we find ourselves checking the items off our list. Slow-moving progress on the highway loop around Munich: check! High-speed stretch on the autobahn between the airport and the city: check! Meandering country roads and tight bends covered in wet leaves and foliage: check… and check! Next up, the city’s identikit suburbs, street after confusingly similar street, scanning for that elusive parking space.

Any city dweller will know the drill.

Before we embarked on our cover-all-bases test drive, though, we’d allowed ourselves a suitably reverent snoop around the outside of the > S-Class. We were greeted by a stretched,

G O I N G TO WOR K Business trips are the S-Class’ specialty. New functions offer the comfort of a top exec office.

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relaxed The S-Class relieves stress on the driver – a welcome antidote to long journeys.

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coupe-like silhouette and pleasingly harmonious proportions. Before I climbed aboard, the S 350 BlueTec pitched me into an unprecedented dilemma. Would I rather get straight behind the wheel or settle back into one of the rear seats? Boundless luxury or driving passion, passenger or driver? It was a straight choice.

In the end, my desire to explore the car’s driving ability got the nod over the lure of comfort, and we were off. It wasn’t long before I could see the future – here on the road, right now.

We’re driving along the autobahn like every other vehicle, just another participant in the stop-start exchanges of morning traffic. And yet there’s a feeling, justifiable I think, that in the new S-Class you are at the vanguard of a revolution – a revolution in semi-autonomous driving. My job in all of this is simply to relax behind the wheel. The car is already doing many things by itself; steering, braking, picking

d r i v e

PREST I G I O U S A glance out the window tells you all you need to know: this is a car that inspires desire.

up speed again. In the stereo camera alongside the rear-view mirror and the ultrasound and radar sensors behind the bumpers, I am joined by indefatigable, undistractable, always objective co-drivers, their “eyes” peeled on every area of the car at all times. More than a dozen little electronic helpers are working away in the S-Class to relieve the stress on the driver. And when we reach our destination, the car will, naturally, park itself.

But we don’t ever feel “nannied” by the assistance systems, just in good, safe hands. Leaving the city limits behind us we lock into full cruising mode. That means exploring the engine’s 190 kW and doing some serious “mile munching”. The crudeness of this expression is out of kilter with a car you can sense slipping through the air (it has an outstanding Cd of just 0.24) and which is so effectively insu> lated from outside noise. The Magic Body

b ig s c r e e n The display above the center console has a diagonal of 30 centimeters (11.8 in.).

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SEL F - STARTER The S-Class is the equal of any situation on the road.

It can even drive itself in stop-start city traffic.

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d r i v e

Majestic power, inner calm

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Control function, which detects bumps and potholes in advance and adjusts the springs and damping accordingly, is reserved for the S 500, but our S-Class also glides over the autobahn with regal elegance. Majestic power delivery and inner calm come as standard in the new S-Class. Not that, as the driver, you feel removed from the action. Quite the opposite, in fact. With Lane Keeping Assist, the proximity control system Distronic Plus and Blind Spot Assist all activated, one little finger on the steering wheel is sufficient to navigate this powerful, five-meter-plus (over 16-ft) flagship down the road.

The thought persists that the S-Class is already capable of doing more things independently than road traffic regulations and lawmakers allow. And so the car ensures that I continue to take responsibility for our progress. If I let go of the steering wheel, the system waits

CO M F ORTABLE The S-Class provides an inviting place to relax on a journey between appointments.

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d r i v e

ALERT At night, the headlamp beam adapts to the oncoming traffic.

ten seconds before prompting me, by means of a red-colored graphic, to return my hands to the rim. The message is reinforced by a louder warning tone. The S-Class is only satisfied when I have the wheel back securely in my grip.

Even now, Lane Keeping Assist makes its presence felt when a correction in the car’s line is required. Its mix of autopilot and power steering is unfamiliar at first, but you soon get the idea: the driver sets the general course and the car takes care of the precision work. The Mercedes-Benz development engineers are aiming to use this system to relieve the stress of the driver over long distances. And it’s certainly true that, even after five hours of driving, I feel incredibly rested and revived.

Office or living room on wheels When you mention the S-Class, references to a mobile office tend not to be far away. And it goes without saying that all the necessary office-related systems work without a hitch.

I’ve used the Linguatronic function to dictate our destinations to the car, and the wireless hot spot has allowed us to hook up to the Internet in our breaks from driving, while our smartphones furiously exchange data with the infotainment system. It is all easily controlled using the huge, split-screen display, on which the dashboard dials gain fully digital animation. The driver holds sway over dozens of configurations – far too many to become properly acquainted with in just a few hours.

Business travel may be the S-Class’ forte, but the car can also be seen as an inviting mobile living room. Darkness is gathering after the

i S 350 BlueTec Engine / Output 3.0-liter six-cylinder, 190 kW at 3,600 rpm; max. torque 620 Nm (457 lb-ft) at 1,600–2,400 rpm

Transmission 7G-Tronic Plus 7-speed automatic

Safety The Belt Bag protects rear-seat passengers in a crash. An airbag inside the seat belt strap inflates it to almost three times its normal width.

This additional inflated surface mitigates the impact of an accident.

day’s testing and a light drizzle has started to fall. The ambient lighting, which offers a choice of seven colors, releases a soft shade of reddish-orange to encourage coziness in the interior, while smooth jazz flows out from the Burmester sound system, and the warm air chambers in the backrest (part of the hotstone massage function) work out the tension in my lumbar region. A whole armada of electric motors, meanwhile, ensures I am sitting more comfortably than in any armchair. It isn’t only the people inside the S-Class who benefit from its talents, though; other road users also stand to gain. The Intelligent Light System, for example, graciously adapts the beam from the headlamps to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic.

As our day in the S-Class comes to an end, I find myself backtracking on my hesitation at the beginning of the test: when there is so much comfort on offer, autonomous driving < cannot come soon enough.

Mood Ambient lighting – in the form of a wraparound band of light – uses seven different colors to enhance the feeling of onboard comfort.

Further technical data and fuel consumption figures can be found on page 74.

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c r a f t p e r f E c t l y d 30

w o r d s K at h a r i n a H e s e d e n z

c h a r a c t e r s

photos Dedar, Schoenbuch

THE IDEAL OF PERFECTION is pursued in very different ways by fabric producer Dedar, furniture manufacturer Schönbuch and watchmaker Patek Philippe – but all three have amassed similar experiences.

3 D effec t Sophisticated weaving technology makes it possible to recreate in fabric the original Hermès pattern’s illusion of spatial depth.

The painted cabinet is manufactured by Schönbuch.

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Tradition Dedar’s archives hold thousands of historical fabrics and patterns.

The company’s collective know-how has been handed down for generations.

Right page: The Tourbillon multifunctional chronograph, Reference 5207R.

on catwalks and at furniture fairs salons worldwide. It is typical of Dedar that its flagship silk is realized in concert with a manufacturer specializing in Jacquard loom operation. By contrast, the fabric designers prefer manufacturing velvet on silk looms, which renders the finished product especially soft and shiny.

The secret to smooth surfaces Fabrizio is convinced that his business depends exclusively on human know-how. “Everyone around here has a loom, but only a few are able to meet our demands.” His family considers the years of accumulated knowledge as to which weaving mill should be entrusted with which pattern to be the most confidential of industrial secrets. Once an innovation is finally realized, it goes through a battery of tests conducted in a room full of Rube Goldberg-like devices, where each fabric gets thoroughly rubbed, torn and soaked. This testing phase also tends to be much more cost-intensive than the industry norm.

“Perfection to me refers to an idealistic value.

And to never, ever compromising,” says Fabrizio.

Michael Ress echoes the same themes, though

photos Dedar, Patek Philippe, Schoenbuch

t

rue perfection may exist only in mathematical formulas or physics calculations, but the ambition to achieve perfection in a traditional handicraft has something very comforting about it.

It is thanks to this ambition that we humans haven’t had to make do with inferior goods since the days when we stumbled out of caves and replaced animal furs with hand-woven fabrics. It’s an ambition that led to the invention of the loom and to the type of fabrics produced by the north Italian label Dedar.

Founded in 1976 and based in Como, the company today enjoys a reputation as the world’s most innovative developer of home fabrics. When Raffaele and Caterina Fabrizio took over the company from their parents 15 years ago, one of their first decisions was to make 3-meter-wide (almost 10-ft) lengths of woven silk. At the time, 1.5 meters (approx. 5 ft) was considered the technical limit. “It was a financial risk, but we put all our eggs in one basket,” relates the fabric designer. Two years and countless setbacks later, the extra-wide silk was finally on display in their showroom.

The siblings reaped the benefits of their chutzpah in 2011, when the French luxury label Hermès tasked them with developing and marketing their wallpapers and fabrics. The two firms enjoy a healthy partnership, says Raffaele Fabrizio, because both Dedar and Hermès are family-owned. “When it comes to making risky decisions, a large corporation will always seek the most economically rational solution. We know from experience, however, that sometimes it’s those apparently irrational decisions which can lead to a creative leap forward.”

An ear-splitting din fills the factory. On rapidly pounding Dornier industrial looms, shuttles flit back and forth so quickly they’re barely visible to the unaided eye. The warp – or longitudinal threads – that they pass through are so thin they can only be seen using a magnifying glass.

Striped Hermès upholstery fabrics are issuing from two of the machines, so densely woven that each cubic centimeter contains 170 warp threads crisscrossed by 500 weft – or horizontal – threads. Nearby, a coat fabric for Valentino is taking shape, which has an impressive 250 warp threads per square centimeter. Next to it are others intended for the 2014 spring and summer collections by Balmain, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton and Moschino.

The Jacquard looms, which allow each warp thread to be individually controlled and thus can reproduce fabric patterns of any imaginable complexity, used to be controlled with punchcards. Nowadays, computers carry out this function. In the studio, designers use hand-held scanners to input into the software the selfsame patterns which will soon be raising eyebrows

c h a r a c t e r s

applied to furniture manufacturing, where his family has been striving for perfection for 168 years. In contrast to Dedar, the entrepreneur has his own manufacturing facility – the Ress Furniture Workshop – and in 2005 he even founded his own label. Unlike the Fabrizio family, Ress hires designers on a project basis. Under the brand name “Schönbuch”, he works together with design heavyweights like Stefan Diez, Ulf Moritz and Hadi Teherani to develop cabinet systems unequalled anywhere in the world.

Year after year at the International Furniture Fair in Cologne, the same scene unfolds: people stand transfixed in front of the Schönbuch booth, letting their fingers gently glide across immaculate, glossy surfaces. They open cupboards over and over again, just because the resistance of the doors feels so incredibly right. They issue appreciative ohs and ahs while inspecting leather-upholstered drawers with integrated shelves and sockets for mobile phones. “Schönbuch is fortunate to be able to draw on the resources of Ress. A great deal of knowledge has accumulated there over the years.” His father, for example, who has trained more than 200 apprentices over the course of his life, knows exactly what type of tree to buy in which country at what time of year in order to obtain the ideal wood to use as a substrate for those much-admired glossy surfaces.

A single day’s deviation in 122 years Since the advent of computer-controlled humidity regulation, the finishing process has been more successful than ever before. There are no hard and fast rules for determining the percentage of moisture the air can or should contain; it depends on the weather and a host of other factors – all of which points up a very human aspect of the whole process: programming the perfect humidity factor involves a lot of humdrum routine. Once the paint layers have finally dried without a blemish, they undergo several polishing cycles: the surfaces are machine-polished, while corners and edges are done by hand. Lambskin is then used to give the entire piece a meticulous final cleaning. To avoid any damage during transport, the custom-built furniture components begin their journey to market nestled inside custom-made boxes. It is amazing that a locally-based midsized company could identify and conquer its niche in the global market with such ruthless precision, and it is a direct result of melding an illustrious handicraft tradition with the desire for constant improvement, according to Ress.

“If a family-owned company doesn’t come up with something new or at least question things, they’ll be running a museum in short order.

It’s all about finding the right balance between things you’ve been taught and things you’ve

we realize that sometimes it’s exactly those seemingly irrational decisions that can lead to a creative leap forward. r affaele fabrizio

discovered on your own. Experience is certainly an important factor here, but so is the resolve to open oneself up to the new.”

Swiss watch manufacturer Patek Philippe, founded in 1839, has long since outgrown any temptation to enter the museum business. “We needed a good 170 years to get where we are now,” says Thierry Stern, the company’s fourthgeneration owner. “Anyone can build a nice watch, but to build a watch that’s technically brilliant requires years of studying manufacturing processes and material properties.”

Stern personally prefers the perpetual calendar watch: “That was one of the most difficult technical challenges we’ve ever had to face.” Clocks with the feature were initially invented in the 18th century, and Patek Philippe launched the first wristwatch version in 1922.

Radio telescopes and atomic clocks have since come into existence, and today an International Office of Weights and Measures (BIPM) near Paris works diligently to ensure that the oscillations of a Cesium-133 atom remain the ultimate standard for measuring the passage of time. There are precisely 9,192,631,770 oscillations in a second.

All the more miraculous, then, that with the help of screws and screwdrivers, watches can be built that are off by a single day after 122 years.

Inside the manufacturing plant – accessible to visitors only through an airlock and clad in protective suits – computers and silicon components enable the construction of wristwatches that are the finest ever in terms of complexity, precision and durability. In this sort of context, perfection means exceeding customers’ expectations. “Our watchmakers always try to find more elegant solutions for existing functions”, explains German CEO Yannick Michot. “With our Tourbillon, we’re > getting close to achieving perfection.”

high gloss The immaculate surfaces of the “Stripes” sideboard are the result of exacting manual labor, software, and 150 years of experience.

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DRIVING SAFELY… WITHOUT A DRIVEr: The S 500 Intelligent Drive research car uses near-production-ready technology to show that autonomous driving is already possible today.

Hands off the wheel!

A

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n S-Class sedan rolls out of the shadows. The rear door opens and Daimler Chairman Dieter Zetsche emerges to an excited reception. But the applause at the Frankfurt Auto Show (IAA) is as much, if not more, an expression of amazement at the empty space where the driver should be.

The S 500 Intelligent Drive research car chauffeuring Zetsche onto the stage is busy turning the long-held dream of the self-driving car into reality – and not only over a few short meters in Frankfurt. Back in August, the autonomous S-Class proved its mettle on a test drive from Mannheim to Pforzheim. The route covered 50 km (31 miles) on country roads and 53 km (33 miles) through towns and villages, taking in 18 traffic circles, hundreds of traffic lights, intersections, pedestrian crossings and roadworks along the way. In so

PIONEERING TRIP 125 years after the first long-distance car journey between Mannheim and Pforzheim, it was time for the first autonomous drive.

doing, it made history all over again. 125 years after Bertha Benz embarked on the first long-distance car journey in her husband Carl’s new invention, Mercedes-Benz has become the world’s first automaker to show that a car can drive itself over cross-country and urban roads. An array of camera and radar sensors and intelligent 3D maps allows the car to control the steering wheel, accelerator and brake pedal fully autonomously.

“I’m proud that we’ve achieved this with a vehicle not far removed from current production models,” says Prof. Ralf Guido Herrtwich, Director of Driver Assistance and Chassis Systems.

The project has shown that self-driving cars are within touching distance. The new S-Class, with its ability to drive autonomously in traffic backups, offers a taster of what lies ahead.

i n n o v a t i o n

words Christoph henn photos Anatol Kot te

EASY DOES IT Drive to your destination without touching the steering wheel – technically, it’s already possible.

THE TECHNOLOGY is based on the highly developed sensors of the new S-Class and three-dimensional digital maps.

In a few years, Mercedes drivers will reap the rewards of today’s research. No longer obliged to keep their hands on the wheel over monotonous commuter journeys or long freeway stretches, they will be able to make a phone call or read a book knowing that they can retake the helm at any time. Herrtwich and his team are aiming to make autonomous driving on freeways a reality by 2020, before extending the technology to the rest of the road network. But there are still a few hurdles to overcome, such as interaction with other drivers in bottlenecks and with pedestrians. Indeed, the test took an inadvertent turn for the amusing when passersby paused to let the car continue over pedestrian crossings only to find it waiting equally patiently for them. Clearly < a car with manners as well as intelligence.

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Pascal Wehrlein i driver in DTM hi s 36

words christoph Henn

photos jan friese

s p o r t s

is the youngest story. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Waiting 37

THE ANNOUNCEMENT last March that Mercedes-Benz had entrusted one of its DTM cockpits to an 18-year-old came like a bolt from the blue.

But the former Formula 3 wunderkind Pascal Wehrlein is already beginning to demonstrate his prodigious talent in touring cars. Ahead of the race at Oschersleben, he spoke of ambitions, teamwork – and his passion for playing drums. o l d a n d n e w at Mercedes: Pascal Wehrlein with David Coulthard (far left), who bowed out of DTM in 2012, and with colleagues from the current season (left).

p owe r pac k The Mercedes-Benz AMG C-Coupe is powered by a 500 hp V-8 engine.

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He arrives for the photo shoot with the same focus he brings to motor racing. Having removed his helmet, Pascal Wehrlein first checks his hair. For the next shot he swaps his race overalls for a smart suit and tie, studiously ignoring the “graduation ball” quips from his mechanics. And when the photographer suggests taking some pictures at the wheel of his AMG Mercedes C-Coupe, he declines firmly at first: “The suit will get dirty.”

Small details that reveal two things about Wehrlein. First, he knows his own mind and is not afraid to say what he thinks. And secondly, he is down to earth and able to weigh up the pros and cons where his high-tech racing car is concerned. Insiders say that this 19-year-old shows astonishing professionalism for a sportsman his age.

Were you surprised when Mercedes signed you up to race DTM last March?

I had been juggling with a number of scenarios, but not that one. I was away from home when I learned that a cockpit had

s p o r t s

ST Y LE CONSC I O U S Pascal Wehrlein looks as good in a suit as he does in race overalls.

M I L E S T ON E S 19 9 4 Pascal Wehrlein is born in Sigmaringen, Germany. His mother is from Mauritius.

2003 First experience of karting, aged eight. The following year he finishes runner-up in an indoor race series; in 2006 he takes the first of three national karting titles.

2 01 0 Wehrlein switches to formula racing and quickly makes his presence felt: in 2011 he wins the ADAC Formula Masters; the following year he finishes runner-up as best rookie in the Formula 3 Euro series.

photos Jan friese (2), Daimler AG (3)

2 013 Aged just 18, Pascal Wehrlein becomes the youngest driver in DTM history at the wheel of the Mercedes AMG C-Coupe.

become available [the one occupied by Ralf Schumacher, ed.] and that I had been selected.

I was almost in a state of shock. I had just completed Formula 3 testing and was about to go into the first race of the season.

So did you ask if you could sleep on the idea?

No, you can’t turn down an opportunity like that.

How difficult was it to switch from a formula racing car to the DTM Mercedes?

I’d driven it twice during the winter, so I already had a feel for it – I knew where all the buttons were at least. But it’s a big change nevertheless. The DTM car is a lot heavier and much wider. The driver’s seat isn’t central and you can’t see the tires. These are all things that take time to get used to.

I’m still in the learning phase, because race weekends are short and we have just 90 minutes of free practice. Although I know quite a few of the circuits from Formula 3, I find I’m having to learn them all over again. In DTM, for example, you drive over some curbs you would normally avoid in the formula car.

Do the other drivers keep reminding you that you’re the youngest driver?

Sure, I get a bit of ribbing, particularly from the team. So I enjoy winding up Gary Paffett [aged 32, ed.] about the fact that he’s my grandpa, and he teases me that I’m not much older than his children. But when it comes to the race, age isn’t a factor. At the end of the day, we’re all racing against each other and all trying to do the best we can for ourselves. It’s the same with > anything – you first have to earn respect.

Are there things you can observe and learn from the older drivers?

Of course. I study Gary’s data to see what he does differently, for example. I compare his lap data with mine to see where he brakes earlier or later and where he exits the turn quicker.

Even if you drive the perfect race, there are always seconds lost as a result of pit stop problems you can do nothing about. How much do things like that bother you?

Sure, it’s frustrating sometimes because you’re prevented from achieving your best. We discuss the problems internally, of course. But next time it might be me that makes a mistake and the team performs perfectly. So we’ve got to stick together and support each other.

age isn’t A factor when it comes to the race.

In the end, we’re all racing against each other. It’s the same with anything – you have to earn respect.

How do you relax after a hard day’s racing?

I play the drums, hard rock mainly. But I also enjoy listening to hip-hop and rap. And I play a lot of soccer.

Might that have been an alternative to motorsports?

Yeah, all the major clubs wanted to sign me ... [he laughs]. Soccer is a great counterbalance – it gives you stamina and teaches you to play as part of a team. And if you play up front, as I do, you have to keep a cool head – the same as with driving.

Are you ambitious by nature? Or are you the patient type, who waits for the opportunity to strike?

Waiting has never really been my strong suit, but I’ve learned a lot this season. I’m extremely ambitious. I think that’s what makes the difference more than anything. All my life I’ve competed against people who are older than me and I was always one of the best.

In DTM, on the other hand, your finishes so far this season have not been quite so spectacular. Do you miss not winning?

Of course, it’s difficult when you’re not getting the results. But there have been races this season where it could have happened for me.

So in that respect, I’m reasonably satisfied with the way things have gone. In addition to setting the fastest lap at the Nürburgring, I’ve been on course for a podium finish on several occasions, and in my first race I held the lead for several laps. I think I’ve had a few highlights.

Who are your role models in motorsports?

I think really only young children look up to role models. But there are people I admire.

In the past there was Mika Häkkinen, then Kimi Räikkönen, and now Lewis Hamilton.

What I found most impressive about Hamilton was that podium finish in his first Formula 1 race – and the fact that he came so close to winning the championship.

Some people are comparing you to Hamilton...

Perhaps, I don’t pay too much attention to all that. I drive DTM and I’m Pascal Wehrlein > – end of story.

40

photos Jan Friese, daimler AG

pit stops have not always gone according to plan for Pascal Wehrlein this season.

Do you feel more pressure in DTM? No, not really. If anything, I had more pressure last season because I felt I had to stay at the front to get myself noticed. If you don’t do that, you’re unlikely to get an offer from Mercedes. No one is expecting podium finishes from me this season. So any pressure I feel comes from my own expectations – which is just as it used to be.

Power play

illustrationâ&#x20AC;&#x201A; cristiano rinaldi

NEW ENGINES AND new RULES will alter the character of Formula 1 races significantly from 2014 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and up the excitement ante another notch.

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s p o r t s

P o wer U ni t The V-6 engine is smaller than the current V-8, although the hybrid components occupy more room.

y the time the 2014 season gets underway in Australia next March, a buzzword normally associated with road cars will be peppering the Formula 1 paddock: efficiency. That’s because F1 is keen to sharpen its profile as a laboratory for innovations destined for standard production cars. The idea is to make the transfer of technology as embodied by the KERS elements in the Mercedes-Benz SLS Electric Drive a much more common occurrence.

The most important new development, beyond a slimmer and lower nose, is the replacement of the current V-8 engine and KERS tech with a new drive arrangement known as the “power unit”. There are two key changes: in place of the V-8 will come a turbocharged six-cylinder unit with capacity reduced from 2,400 cc to 1,600 cc; and maximum revs will be 15,000 rpm, down from 18,000.

The hybrid componentry of the engines will increase significantly. This season’s KERS technology, which converts braking energy into electric energy, will be succeeded by ERS – the Energy Recovery System. Two electric motors will store ten times as much energy as the KERS system and deliver double the power. In addition, the driver will be free to deploy this extra muscle for 33.3 seconds per lap, whereas KERS could be used for only 6.7 seconds. Also new is an onboard fuel limit of 100 kg – around 140 liters (36 gallons) – per race, where at present there is no restriction. The race winners will be the drivers who make the most efficient use of fuel and hybrid power, while also extracting the greatest performance from their car. As well as the wiles of the pit wall strategists, the drivers’ intelligence will also be put to the test. Advantage Hamilton and Rosberg? It > will be fun finding out.

b

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c h a r a c t e r s

School of life FORMER BUNDESLIGA STAR Jorginho set up the social project Bola Pra Frente in the slums of Rio de Janeiro with funding from the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. Few of the boys and girls who come here will turn into professional soccer players, but virtually all have the prospect of a future beyond the favelas.

words benedik t sarreiter

photos thomas hoeffgen

45

d

riving north from the center of Rio de Janeiro, you catch a fleeting glimpse of a tiny soccer stadium amid the warehouses, containers and bewildering tangle of highways. Along its left-hand touchline is a stand with blue seats offering viewing for 8,000 spectators. A stadium like so many in Brazil – and yet unique. For on the wall bordering the south side of the field, written in large letters, are the words: Aqui nasceu o Fenômeno – “This is where the Phenomenon was born”.

The Phenomenon in question is Ronaldo, one of the finest strikers the game has ever known, a player who began his career here with thirddivision club São Cristovão, before going on to play for Barcelona, Madrid and Milan. Ronaldo shot Brazil to World Cup glory, living the dream of many children born in Rio de Janeiro: to play soccer professionally, achieve international fame and see one’s name painted on buildings everywhere. Nowhere is the soccer dream more real than in Brazil, the country whose soul is so closely entwined with the beautiful game that author Nelson Rodrigues was once moved to write: “Every country has its disaster, its wound that never heals, its own Hiroshima. Ours is the defeat to Uruguay in the 1950 World Cup.” And yet the dream remains largely unfulfilled.

That wouldn’t be so bad if soccer were not the only outlook for many young people in Rio. So 13 years ago, former Bundesliga star Jorginho founded Bola Pra Frente (“moving the ball forward”) with the aim of changing perspectives for at least a few hundred boys and girls.

He set up the institute in the city’s northern zone, which is home to Rio’s poor and underprivileged. You pass by the district when you turn left off the road to the airport and join the heavy traffic along the six-lane Avenida Brasil highway. With Copacabana and the Sugarloaf lost from view, the sports ground and institute buildings of Bola Pra Frente are eventually

L OO K I N G A H E A D A total of 900 children from the poor district of Guadalupe attend the institute each day after normal school. Threequarters of them find a job within two years of leaving Bola Pra Frente.

reached after a 45-minute drive past favelas and industrial premises. Surrounded by high fences, the institute nestles beneath the Gétulio Vargas estate, the housing scheme named for the Brazilian president who, in the 1950s, put up apartment blocks in the socialist style. The core of the complex is a snaking, 450-meter-long (approx. 1,500-ft), six-story building with a gallery running through the middle. This was intended as a meeting place for the block’s inhabitants. Today, it attracts only drug users and crack addicts. Over on the other side of the estate, a black horse runs free, abandoned cars litter the street, and the sound of firecrackers can be heard in the distance. This is not a good area.

How peaceful, by comparison, the atmosphere at Bola Pra Frente. Girls fool around, arm in arm, flirting with the boys, taking turns to play table tennis and laughing at their failed attempts to land a smash. Two walls of the ground-floor buildings are covered with posters depicting

scenes from Jorginho’s career. He grew up not far from here, although after years of coaching in Japan and current commitments in São Paulo, occasions when he is able to drop by are few and far between. His family, too, was very poor, his home a wooden hut. When he lost his father at the age of ten, money became even scarcer. Two of his seven siblings fell victim to drug addiction.

“My life was no different to that of many of the children who come to Bola today,” Jorginho explains. Football was his way out. His dream was to build a house for his mother, to help his friends – and now he could. But he also wanted to ensure that children from his neighborhood, Guadalupe, were provided with the sanctuary he never had.

That moment came in 2000, when Jorginho <

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c h a r a c t e r s

<

SOCCER IS OFTEN the only hope for youngsters in Rio. The Bola Pra Frente Institute sets out to change that.

47

t h e r ule s and the language of soccer apply in lessons as well as on the training field. They help the youngsters grasp things more easily.

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c h a r a c t e r s

and Brazilian teammate Bebeto opened the Instituto Bola Pra Frente. Since then, 900 children have been coming here every day after normal school is over. Although soccer is what draws them, sport is not the only subject on the curriculum. The children are also offered courses in dance and music, reading and information technology. The lessons are constantly changing, tailored to the different age groups, and run from one o’clock until half past four.

Class troublemakers see red

j u s t like a p r o Eleven-year-old Luiz Palhano’s style of play is reminiscent of the young Franz Beckenbauer, who once paid a visit with a truckload of soccer shoes.

>

soccer, IT and foreign language tuition are all part of helping the teenagers to discover their identity.

Lessons are adapted to suit the children’s ages.

Six- to nine-year-olds are given help with reading and writing. At this level, sports lessons follow no set guidelines. The teachers observe what talents and aptitude the children have, noting whether they prefer soccer, volleyball or swimming, for example, and giving advice on skills and technique.

For the ten- to fourteen-year-olds, the focus is on artistic expression. They dance, there is a music group with homemade instruments – including drums made from plastic containers – and a theater group. The teachers help the teenagers to discover their identity. Over 15 of them work at Bola Pra Frente, all trained specialists in their field. All grew up in similar circumstances to the pupils and therefore have personal experience of the problems and everyday challenges faced by their charges. They encourage them to talk about any concerns they may have and how they see themselves. In regular interviews, the youngsters are given reports on their progress and where there is room for improvement.

With the oldest group, the 15- to 17-year-olds, thoughts are already turning to career possibilities on leaving school. The focus here is on mathematics, IT and foreign languages. Orientation classes help the teenagers find answers to the problem of choosing a career. “Our aim is to change the lives of children and young people, not train them to become athletes,” says Susana Moreira.

Nevertheless, Rafael Moura is determined to become a professional soccer player. In the next building along from the six-year-olds, the <

A lesson is about to start for a class of six-yearolds in one of the four buildings on the site. About 15 children sit on tiny chairs at round tables in the cramped classroom, listening attentively to their teacher, Iara Malaquias. “What letter is that?” Iara asks with a broad smile. “Jaaay,” the children call out. “That’s right. And how many words do we know beginning with the letter J?” One girl puts her hand up: “jogar” (“to play”). Iara writes the word “jogar” on the board and then “Jorginho”. Even the six-year-olds already recognize that name.

Suddenly, a boy stands up and starts fooling around, disturbing the others. “Sit down or you’ll get a yellow card,” Iara says. The boy quickly sits down. Next to the blackboard is a list of offenses that may be punished with a yellow or red card: lack of respect for the teacher, using bad language, biased opinions, causing a disturbance, arguing. A red card means the wrongdoer will spend a quarter hour on the touchline at the next training session.

“Here at Bola Pra Frente we use soccer rules and the names and pictures of players as part of our teaching methodology. The children grasp things more quickly that way, and the courses are more fun and more effective,” explains Susana Moreira, the institute’s director.

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chubby-faced 17-year-old sits at a computer and grapples with the intricacies of Excel codes and spreadsheets. The computers are brand new – a prize presented to one of the Bola teams for winning a tournament. Rafael keys in some data, but his mind is elsewhere. Perhaps he is already imagining in his mind’s eye the tricks he is about to display on the soccer field. His idol is the German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and he harbors dreams of playing like him. It is somewhat hard to imagine: Rafael is a little overweight. But on the artificial grass of the Bola soccer field he exhibits the control, vision and ball skills that often only the short, stocky players can conjure – a Maradona, for example. And what will he do if his dream of becoming a soccer pro comes to nothing? “Well, I guess I’ll get a job as a government employee – I’ve already had some work experience. You know, I’ve been coming here since I was eight years old. To begin with, everyone just wants to play soccer, but your outlook changes when you learn other things. I’ve become more responsible and self-disciplined, and as each year passes I feel better.”

Parents learn from their children Dulce do Amaro and Ronaldo Alves de Mello listen to Rafael and nod in agreement. They are sitting on a bench not far from the soccer field. “The institute helps our children to stay on the right track; in this area, it’s easy to get in with the wrong crowd. They feel safe here,”

50

his idol is Bastian Schweinsteiger.

But if things don’t work out in soccer for Rafael Moura (above), there’s always Plan B. Below: Group photo in front of role models.

The poster shows Jorginho (center, no.

2), once a star of the Bundesliga, now a coach and philanthropist.

says Dulce, a secretary with two sons at Bola.

Like so many in the neighborhood, she is a single mother; and like Ronaldo, she lives in one of the apartment blocks on the Gétulio Vargas estate.

Ronaldo is a security guard and has four children. Through Bola Pra Frente, one of his daughters has found a job in another part of the northern zone. He says: “The impact the institute has on our community is enormous. It’s a meeting point. And you should not underestimate how much we learn from our children. Sometimes

they have a greater sense of responsibility than the adults.” What’s more, most have no behavioral issues at school. And only 0.5 percent of Bola Pra Frente students quit school or training early, compared with 42 percent of youngsters who have never attended the institute. Three-quarters of Bola alumni, moreover, find a job within two years of leaving the institute.

Bola Pra Frente boasts a whole string of success stories. For Jorginho, one of the most remarkable is that of brothers Jefferson and Jeíson. They grew up in a family that lived on less than 40 Brazilian reals (around 18 US dollars) per month. Coming to the institute radically changed their lives. The two brothers completed all stages of the training.

Jefferson went on to study information technology and is now employed by a major company. So, too, is his brother, who completed studies in oil and natural gas technology and English.

“I see it as our role to convince children they can be successful if they believe in themselves – and that it is good to strive for success alongside others,” says Jorginho. Of course, he knows that most students would still prefer to become professional soccer players, a new Ronaldo or Jorginho. “And we do what we can to support them in that goal, even if it doesn’t happen often.”

But just occasionally it does. The wingback for the current Brazilian women’s team is Fabiana Simões, a former student at Bola Pra Frente. And next year, the institute will undergo expansion in the hope of adding more such success stories to its record. For then it will be able to cater for 2,000 children a day.

As the evening approaches, Rodrigo Jander, one of the sports teachers, blows his whistle to start the final match of the day. This time there is not the usual segregation of age groups, and as always, boys and girls play alongside and against each other. This is another principle of the institute. There is no gender separation in any sport or in any age group. The idea is that boys learn to treat girls with respect, and that girls learn defense mechanisms against the boys.

Sure enough, Melissa, a stocky, blonde 16-yearold, has the most powerful shot of anyone on the field. It’s an end-to-end game, with a lot of chaotic chasing after the ball. But just occasionally, the youngsters demonstrate some straight-line moves of soccer beauty.

One player stands out in particular. He runs upright, his head aloft, like a young Franz Beckenbauer, unselfishly looking for players in space – unlike many of his teammates. He is small, 11 years old, but his game is already more mature and technically advanced than that of the 17-year-olds. His name is Luiz Felipe Palhano. In a few years, perhaps, his name will be famous and emblazoned on the walls of buildings. In < Brazil and at Bola Pra Frente.

Mobility is in our nature.

And nature is what drives us.

We have a clear objective: to reduce emissions substantially right now and to eliminate them completely in the future. This is why Daimler is developing efficient internal combustion engines and hybrid drive systems as well as locally emission-free electric vehicles powered by the battery or by the fuel cell. For individual mobility, local public transport and goods transport. After all, we invented the automobile – now we‘re shaping its future. Our Road to Emission-free Driving.

www.daimler.com

c 21 5 A domed roofline emphasizes the individual design of the 215-series CL Coupe, which features the new ABC dynamic control system.

1992

C 216 Taut lines, myriad technical innovations and a host of assistance systems define the new CL-Class.

1999

2006

Large coupes, long history: c 1 4 0 The 140-series SEC, S Coupe and CL Coupe are offered with a 12-cylinder engine and ESP.

LARGE COUPES from Mercedes-Benz are renowned for their illustrious history.

The latest in this distinguished line, the Concept S-Class Coupe, uses stunning forms, exclusive materials and spectacular technology to showcase a new definition of modern luxury.

d rea m car The Concept S-Class Coupe has an almost unfeasibly handsome design.

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PHotos Daimler AG

S for sensational

t

c 1 0 7 In the 1970s, the SL models provided the basis for the large Mercedes Coupes. The later 5-liter version had a light-alloy engine.

he phrase “the car of your dreams” is without doubt overused. But the guests assembled for the presentation of the Concept S-Class Coupe must have thought they really had wandered into a realm of fantasy, rather than a hall at the Frankfurt Auto Show (IAA), when the car was unveiled. The audience was met by flowing forms and eye-catching lines, muscular flanks, dominant powerdomes and extravagantly chiseled mirrors. There’s no denying it, this is an almost impossibly handsome car. But the sculptural appearance of the large Coupe is not a case of beauty for beauty’s sake; it is the expression of a design philosophy that sums up the values of Mercedes-Benz. There is tradition in the highlighting of the family resemblance with existing models. There’s emotion – did we mention that flowing silhouette, to which no onlooker can be immune? And there’s progression, embodied by the cutting-edge safety and chassis technology on board, even if this is “only” a concept car.

The Concept S-Class Coupe has been conceived to exude what Mercedes design chief Gorden Wagener calls “modern luxury”. It is therefore

> Vaporized precious metal meets glistening chrome to give the center console a jewel-like sparkle.

1969

C 12 6 The new SEC Coupe is based on the more frugal W 126 S-Class. Customers can specify airbags as an option.

1971

1981

d r iv e

w 111 The “Flachkühler” (flat radiator) 280 SE 3.5 Coupe is presented at the Frankfurt Show with a new V-8 engine.

logical that the drive for perfection should continue inside. The new two-door creation is powered by a bi-turbo V-8 engine generating output of 335 kW and maximum torque of 700 Nm (516 lb-ft). The interior offers generous space for four people. Two large flatscreen monitors for infotainment and navigation are, like the intelligent safety assistant systems, carried over from the recently unveiled new S-Class Sedan, and new features include Mood Grid music software, which picks out a fitting song to suit the ambience from a collection of 18 million titles. Luxury is also the name of the game when it comes to the use of materials. The futuristic air vents are made from a mixture of white aluminum with a ceramic look and brushed aluminum. The center console was created using the “black diamond” method, whereby precious metal is deposited on a high-sheen chrome layer at temperatures of 1,000 degrees Celsius (1,832°F), producing an extremely scratchresistant surface with a jewel-like sparkle.

Inside and out, the Concept S-Class Coupe is < a veritable gem.

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W 1 8 0 The Ponton body paves the way for a new space concept comprising a wide interior, large glass surfaces and outstanding all-round visibility.

b

STA R S Glamour couple Brigitte Bardot and Gunter Sachs pose with their W 111 Coupe in the 1960s.

Déjà vu

FOR over 60 YEARS, the large Mercedes-Benz Coupes have enthralled with their sporting grace and innovation.

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1951

w 111 / w 112 The Fintail Coupe is designed with a safety body shorn of its B-pillars and fitted with four full-size seats.

1956

1961

Large coupes, long history: W 1 8 8 With its sweeping front wings and long hood, the 300 S Coupe rekindles the classic forms of the pre-war period.

ack in the 1950s, German autobahns were littered with drivers performing double-takes in their rear-view mirrors, out of their side windows and through the windshield as a most unusual vehicle shot by at unfamiliar speeds. Capable of 170 km/h (106 mph), the world’s fastest racing-car transporter was scrambled by Mercedes to carry the Silver Arrows to races. It wasn’t only its color and speed that earned the 6.75-meter-long (22ft) vehicle the nickname “the blue miracle” – its unique construction also caught the eye. The powerful engine was taken from the 300 SL sports car, body elements and equipment items were donated by the 180 Sedan, and it was all underpinned by the extended tubular frame of the luxurious Mercedes-Benz 300 S Coupe.

Just a few years earlier, the 300 S Coupe had itself enjoyed miracle status in the public eye. Unveiled

by Mercedes in 1951, it was billed by the motoring press as a “car for the global elite”. More than that, however, it encapsulated an unexpectedly rapid transition from the hardship of the post-war era to the purveyance of luxury. The clientele for the first large Coupe was suitably select; film stars such as Gary Cooper and Errol Flynn were among the car’s original owners. That was hardly surprising, considering it cost as much as a family house to buy. Only 314 units were produced up to 1958.

Exclusivity was also to be the key feature with the subsequent generations of the large Coupe. That much was clear in the interior; the 1956 “Ponton” Coupe, for example, came with fine wood trim, leather and a heating and ventilation fan. And interior specification reached another peak in the 560 SEC several model series later.

The flagship model could be ordered with virtually every comfort conceivable in the 1980s. Electric belt feeders, heated seats, a rear blind, car telephone, fridge box, auxiliary heating and a trip computer were fitted as standard or available as a cost option.

The large Mercedes-Benz Coupes were setting new standards in safety as well as comfort: the 220 SEb Coupe of 1961 came with the safety body which had celebrated its world premiere two years earlier on the “Fintail” Sedan, while in 1995 a revolu-

l e g e n d s

f 1 cha m p In the 1980s, triple Formula 1 world champion Ayrton Senna – like many of his fellow drivers – drove a 500 SEC away from the track.

PERFECTION REQUIERS PRECISION. ALWAYS.

PHotos Daimler Ag (6), Jack garofalo/Paris Match/gett y Images (1) words christoph henn

>

The SEC models created by Bruno Sacco were the world’s highest-selling luxury coupes for ten years in succession.

u n i q ue The Coupe-based transporter was the brainchild of Rudolf Uhlenhaut (above).

Top: Auto racer Juan Manuel Fangio with the “blue miracle”.

tionary innovation went into series production in the S 600 Coupe: the Electronic Stability Program (ESP).

The status of the large Coupe as a leader in terms of comfort, design and technology was reflected by demand. More than 74,000 units of the SEC models created by legendary Mercedes designer Bruno Sacco were built between 1981 and 1992. It was the world’s highest-selling luxury coupe for ten years running, its customer base having long since expanded beyond the ranks of sports and movie stars.

The 450 SLC from the preceding C 107 series had also caused a stir beyond public roads in the 1970s while competing in the world’s toughest rallies. Drivers in the Vuelta America del Sud event regularly had to cover 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) in a day through weather conditions inspired by all four seasons. In 1978, three 450 SLC entrants finished in the top four at the end of the 30,000-kilometer (over 18,600-mile) test, and a year later the car secured a clean sweep of the top four places in the Bandama Rally. By this time the “blue wonder”, the mother (and father) of all racing coupes, had long been consigned to the history books, and in 1967 it was relegated to the scrap heap too. Come the 1990s, though, the transporter was rebuilt in all its former glory – a < process that took 6,000 hours of work.

Art.-No.: 42636

Design Espresso Mashine Advanced Control • Dual Boiler Stainless Steel System: separate espresso and steam boilers for the simultaneous creation of espresso and milk foam • stainless steel espresso heating system with actively heated brewing group – electronic PID controller monitors with degree precision • professional italian Pump (Ulka / 15 bar) in combination with the overpressure valve for the perfect espresso pressure • many programmable functions – LCD Display shows the current settings: Water temperature (86 - 96°C), water quantity (1 or 2 shots), auto start timer, cleaning program, pre-infusion (duration and power), the duration of the espresso extraction • integrated hot water function: Hot water at any time, at the push of a button – for example, to prepare tea • control pressure gauge – for the perfect combination of grind size, grind amount and tamping

www.gastroback.de

network mercedes-benz: six digital winter destinations in the Internet jungle.

TEC H NO L O G Y MA G AZ I NE Innovation, technology and mobility are the key themes in Daimler’s Technicity magazine.

Its sister website likewise focuses on how we will live, work and drive in the future. tech n icit y. da i m ler . com

makeover The international brand website comes in a new look and is even more user-friendly than before.

The digital magazine presents exclusive content from the fascinating world of Mercedes-Benz. m ercedes - benz . com

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illustration Mathis Rekowski photos Daimler Ag

Cool clicks

d i g i t a l

P H OTOS I N T H E FAST L ANE Mercedes’ Instagram presence is expanding by the day. Almost 400,000 followers check out photos not just of automobiles but also of arts and sports events sponsored by Daimler (shown here, St. Moritz Art Masters). i nstagr a m . com /m ercedesbenz

o b il e k i d s task.

Ti p s f o r m aracter with a big ds ch all sm Ki ile Moki is a ob M of Daimler ’s On the website hes rtoon figure teac ca e th e, tiv tia yful ini pla a in s tip safety d children traffic an – rn lea can also way. But adults fety on the sa ed ov pr im contribute to s places inting hazardou roads by pinpo . ap M ty fe Sa the in their town on et n . ds i mo bi le k

N e ws f o r fa n s Don’t be fooled by the name: although this independent website is named for a dream coupe from the past, “Mercedes 500SEC” mainly posts news on the latest models. Fans can also access a comprehensive car database – which, needless to say, includes the eponymous model. 500 sec . com use a QR App to access all the digital offerings from your smartphone too.

m e r c e d e s - b e n z I n t e llig e n t D r i v e In this Web special Michael Schumacher, ambassador for safer driving, explains how Mercedes uses technical innovations to make driving safer and easier. Learn all about driver assistance systems, lighting technology and parking options. m ercedes - benz - i ntelligent - dr i v e . com

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In-house volcano

r e y k j a v i k The Harpa concert hall and conference center in the Icelandic capital is nothing less than an embodiment of the island itself. Artist

Ólafur Elíasson has designed the facade with honeycomb-like glass bricks, which – depending on the weather and time of day– shimmer in yellow, green and violet like the Aurora Borealis. The largest of the four concert halls and conference rooms is Eldborg (“volcanic crater”) and is decorated in lava red. The other rooms are also named after the island’s impressive natural sights – glaciers, cliffs and the Northern Lights themselves.

Even the sharp-edged form of the building’s exterior is inspired by Iceland’s precipitous coastal cliffs. All these features won the building the 2013 Mies van der Rohe Award – one of Europe’s most prestigious architecture prizes. e n . h a r pa . i s 60

E m o t i o n

Sonu Shivdasani founded the Soneva hotel chain together with his wife, Eva. The focus is squarely on luxury, sustainability and relaxation.

The motto of the two resorts in Thailand and on the Maldives: “No news, no shoes.”

Shadow play

photos Eldborg/Harpa.IS, Hilden Diaz, Deluxe-Distribution Illustration Lyndon Hayes/Dutchuncle artwork Willy Verginer

F o r m s i n n a t u r e is the name of a lamp that will transform any room into an enchanted forest.

Can a hotel chain be ecofriendly?

I think it can. Plastic is a taboo for us – we only use natural building materials and try to cultivate as many agricultural products as we can ourselves. We have kitchen gardens, our own water bottling plant, and have launched reforestation and other programs in several countries in a bid to achieve a neutral carbon footprint.

In designing the lampshade, artist couple Thyra Hilden and Pio Diaz were inspired by the sketches of the eccentric thinker Ernst Haeckel. The stronger the light, the more sinister the shadows become.

If the bulb is dimmed, you almost imagine you are seeing a fire burning in the distance. The lamp is currently only made to order, but will soon be available via crowd-funding. piodi a z .wor dpr ess . com

d esi g n

Shoe shine A r c h i t e c t Zaha Hadid has

collaborated with designer Rem Koolhaas to create a shoe that is so stylized, it could pass as a sculpture. The fiberglass platform heel is clad in chromefinish vinyl in black, rose pink or silver. As behoves a work of art, the shoe comes in a limited edition of 100 pairs per color.

How can this be combined with a luxury holiday?

We call our concept “smart luxury” – people no longer want things that are expensive – what they want is things that are rare and unusual. So we concentrate on offering unique experiences such as open-air cinema, supper on an ocean sandbank or a talk by Buzz Aldrin in the hotel’s very own planetarium.

Do you have any tricks to make stressed-out business people relax?

Our “no shoes” rule tends to bring everyone down to earth – it’s difficult to remain formal when you’re walking barefoot over the sand. And I have to admit we cheat a little with the time. People get up at sunrise but still don’t have the feeling they have woken up too early.

u n itedn u de . com

a r t

Melancholic woodcarver s o u t h t y r o l Italian Willy Verginer creates wooden sculptures that he highlights through subtle use of color.

The gloomy “Human Nature” series shows people in contact with animals or plants, but failing to establish any real relationship with them. v ergi n er . com 61

Res t a u r a n t

Topsy-turvy room

H o n g K o n g The Room is a small bistro. To give an impression of spacious-

ness, designer Joey Ho has added an extra dimension by turning it upside down and attaching stairs and windows to the ceiling. joeyhodesign . com

Squared off

Konstantin Grcic and his “Medici” sidetable

“IF WE DIDN’T contradict ourselves, it would be awfully boring. Changing your mind is probably one of the most beautiful things people can do.” , paul auster

Splash! w e a l l s e e the world through different eyes – and some people manage to capture their impressions to share with others. ­National Geographic Traveler selected “Dig me river” by Wagner Araujo from among 15,500 submissions as the winner of this year’s photographic competition. It shows an aquathlon (swimming and running) in Manaus, ­Brazil.

“My lens got ­completely soaked, but the sense of sheer energy was totally captivating,” says Araujo. travel . nationalgeographic . com

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writer

m u n i c h Konstantin Grcic’s “Medici” series is made up of daringly elegant designs that appear to consist entirely of sharp corners and edges. His chairs, stools and side tables are fashioned in wood, but appear so light they could be made of folded paper. Grcic draws his inspiration from planks of wood, as they represent “the very start of the manufacturing process”. konstantin - grcic . com

E m o t i o n

phOTOS Joey Ho Design Ltd., Markus jans for Konstantin Grcic, Mattiazzi, wagner Araujo/national Geographic Traveler Photo Contest, Alex Fradkin/Fogo Island

Fogo Island Inn stands on an island off the coast of Newfoundland. Guests can expect a room with a sea view – and ample time for reflection and relaxation.

High and dry NEW F OUN D LAN D Nowa-

e x p o s e d In winter, only the icebreaker calls at the island. But once you’re there, you don’t miss much. The hotel has a library, cinema, meeting rooms and art gallery.

days, many of us would like to slow down and get away from the unbearable pressure of an incessantly ringing smartphone.

But what can you do if fleeing to a mountain hut or a luxurious hideaway still doesn’t banish the stresses and endless demands of day-to-day life?

Those who seriously fancy a hermit-like existence should consider paying a visit to Fogo Island Inn. To reach it you have to fly to Halifax in Canada, and then on to Gander in Newfoundland, where you drive to the harbor and embark on a ferry to reach your final destination.

The inn itself looms at the top of a cliff amid desolate surroundings, part of it towering above the waves on stilts like some strange, gigantic sea bird. Each of the 29 suites has floor-toceiling windows with an ocean view as far as the eye can see.

A wood-burning stove and handknitted patchwork bed covers are guaranteed to keep you warm and cozy.

s t a n di n g proud With its postmodern architecture, the hotel resembles a storm-battered cliff.

cozy In bed with the ocean – the generously-proportioned windows bring the Atlantic right into your room.

Part of the hotel’s ethos is to make maximum use of the island’s resources. The stylish furniture is built locally using timber sourced from the island.

As well as accommodating conventional guests, the hotel offers three-month travel grants to artists – an excellent idea, given that there are few other distractions on the island.

Guests at Fogo Island Inn – and that is the whole point – are left entirely to their own devices. fogoislandinn . ca

ARCH I TECTURE TO RELAXAT I ON Find out more about all the the topics covered by using the smartphone QR app. mb - qr . com /0 e U

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Castles in the sand

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words ma x scharnigg

photos fr ank bauer

e m o t i o n

NEW SKYSCRAPERS reaching heavenward in lock-step, luxury hotels and a man-made island: Doha, capital of Qatar, is a futuristic oasis perched between the desert and the sea.

But thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an older version of the city that coexists alongside all the glittering futuristic projects.

You just have to look for it.

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The results are easily seen in the bright light of the following day. Friday is the weekly day of prayer, and even the chronically gridlocked Corniche road is suffused with a reverential stillness. Over the last few years, one skyscraper after another has vaulted toward the heavens, and the signs of construction remain ever present – it’s impossible to take a picture that doesn’t contain a crane or two. View the few isolated dhows – traditional wooden boats – lying at anchor off the Corniche against this ultramodern panorama, and you realize why many residents claim this skyline is a miracle: one made possible by oil and air conditioning. Just 20 years ago, the Lonely Planet travel guide called the city “the dreariest place on the planet”. Doha has come a long way since then. The man behind the transformation is former emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

He recognized the vast wealth of untapped oil and gas reserves, pushed the development of extraction technology to new heights and modernized the entire society in the process. Since then, the country’s coffers have been overflowing, and tiny Qatar has quickly morphed into the richest country on Earth.

Top chefs and star architects

d e s e r t s an d s Ancient Fort Zubarah is among Qatar’s most significant historical monuments (above). Need to get around in the sand? Try a camel or the M-Class.

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“Qatar deserves the best” is emblazoned on construction sites across the city, and Doha has taken this upstart slogan to heart, becoming a magnet for the superlative. There are the star architects like I.M. Pei and Rem Koolhaas, who let their creative imaginations run wild in the desert sands. There’s Qatar Airways, considered the world’s best airline for years running. There are top chefs like Alain Ducasse and Gordon Ramsay, and there are some of the tallest skyscrapers in the world. Most importantly, however, and instantly on the tongue of every taxi driver and merchant expressing a sense of pride in their country, is the 2022 soccer World Cup scheduled to take place in Qatar. By then at the latest, Doha will have earned itself a well-deserved exclamation point on the world map.

Further technical data and fuel consumption figures can be found on page 74.

g

reet three customers, take another drag on a cloves cigarette. So goes the evening for Khaled Breish.

The Lebanese native is maintaining a dignified vigil at the entrance to his restaurant Layali, one watchful eye on the reservations book, the other focused on the two dozen waiters perpetually winding their way through the spacious rooms behind him, bearing plates piled high with hummus and grilled lamb. Thursday nights mean big business; outside, the big SUVs are starting to pile up. With temperatures hovering around 36° Celsius (97°F), all the vehicles want to stop as close as possible to the front door – but the fact is Doha is always too hot to put one’s best foot forward unnecessarily. The trip to Layali on Sarwa Road, though, is worth a bit of extra sweat. Lebanese cuisine is generally considered the Middle East’s best, and here it is represented particularly well. The first course hasn’t even arrived when the hookah pipes appear on the table, to be puffed on by patrons all evening in between the individual courses. Tonight – as on most other nights – the groups of male diners are among their own for the most part. Qatar’s take on Islamic law is relatively conservative: in public – when not together with their families – the sexes walk the streets separately, the men clothed in brilliant white, the women veiled and clad in jet black. Such strict observance of tradition represents a stark contrast to the material progress that has for years characterized this Persian Gulf city of over a million.

e m o t i o n

for expats and Qataris alike. Their restaurants, bars and clubs are oases in the social fabric: alcohol is legal, bikinis are allowed on hotel beaches, and women can go out on their own in the evening, explains Claire. She’s looking forward to the winter, which promises temperatures around 25° Celsius (77°F) and even a precious handful of rainy days.

It’s the existence of places where ancient Arabian culture intersects with international modernity that makes this city livable, and the museum is the best proof that this fusion works: magnificent Damascene swords sharing space with haute cuisine by Alain Ducasse. Next door, the biggestever Damien Hirst exhibition is to open, while a little further on the Pearl Man has been hawking minuscule South Sea pearls for decades: luxury is ever present in Doha. Those looking to slake their thirst for the Middle East’s exotic side can take a stroll through a souq: the aroma of cardamom and rose petals, proud Arabs with falcons perched on their forearms, venerable traders grinning toothless smiles. The Souq Waqif is the best-known of these traditional markets, its narrow alleyways practically inviting you to lose your way. Emerging from the confusion, you could find yourself next to a stable full of camels, a stark reminder not only of the desert that begins just beyond the glittering skyscrapers, but also of the desolate hamlet that Doha once was. Toss in the undulating cry of the muezzin and the desert wind kicking sand in your face, and for a brief moment you are transported to a faraway place and time. But then the giant SUVs are back, rumbling impatiently at a traffic light. In the distance, an elaborate light show reflects off the facades of the skyscrapers and suddenly you remember where you are: in Doha, the world’s new> est international metropolis. A miracle indeed.

But the world is no stranger to the huge towers and shopping malls that are air conditioned to 20° Celsius (68°F) and function as ersatz city parks during the sweltering summers. People from all over the globe are moving to the Persian Gulf to work, and they make up a vital part of contemporary Qatari society. One such is Claire, who a year ago was living with her husband and child in a cozy stone house near Geneva. She’s standing in the entrance hall of the Museum of Islamic Art and offers a reserved smile when asked to describe her first summer in the desert. “The hot months were quite tough; you can’t really leave the house as often as you might like. And Ramadan can sometimes make things difficult as well – you can’t just grab a sandwich to eat when you’re on your way somewhere.” A PR firm recruited Claire and she now lives with her family on the 17th floor of one of the ultra-modern skyscrapers in the West Bay section of the city. The numerous luxury hotels there are popular hangouts

piping hot Al Layali offers a unique service – the waitstaff prime the waterpipes with a few warm-up puffs before presenting them to the guests.

Above: The impressive foyer of the Museum of Islamic Art.

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Sweet secret qa t a r ’ s an s w e r to the latte

macchiato is called karak, and although the drink may not look like much, it delivers love at first sip. It’s hot, sweet, and smells of cardamom and honey. Its exact ingredients remain a mystery, chiefly because none of the karak vendors with stands in the souq or on the beach promenade are willing to reveal them.

The best karak is most likely to be had at Chapati & Karak in the cultural enclave of Katara. As its name suggests, the cafe only has two things on the menu: karak and chapati (a type of flatbread) – both highly delicious. In general, experiencing something simple can be quite refreshing in a place like Doha. Chapati

i n - d r i nk Karak was originally introduced to Qatar by migrant workers from southeast Asia.

i Homemade karak Ingredients for one cup 1 tablespoon high-quality black tea ½ tablespoon cardamom (ground) 1 tsp. each sugar and honey spices (cloves, saffron) milk water In a pot, mix one tablespoon of black tea with a half a tablespoon of ground cardamom. Add one cup of boiling water, let it simmer briefly. Add milk (professionals use condensed milk) and at least one teaspoon each of sugar and honey. Bring to a boil again, pour through a tea strainer and enjoy piping hot! Variations can be prepared using cloves, star anise or saffron.

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P E A R L O F Q ATA R The artificial island dubbed “The Pearl” isn’t finished yet, but hundreds of yachts are already anchored in its harbor.

e m o t i o n

call i n g t h e Museum of Islamic Art a treasure trove would be none other than a vast understatement. It is a building of monumental proportions that houses a unique collection of art objects from all over the Arabian peninsula.

Things actually get quite modern up on the fifth floor, but only after the last museum visitors have departed. That’s where star architect I.M. Pei placed his gallery, which for the last year has been more than suitably utilized by French chef Alain Ducasse. For his gem of a restaurant, the Michelin record-holder has adapted his cuisine perfectly to the unique characteristics of the region. Alcohol is forbidden, of course, but patrons don’t really notice. Rather than an elaborate wine list, guests are handed a thick menu featuring an array of modern juice

creations, their bouquets and variety offering a complement to every available course. In the kitchen, Ducasse pupil Romain Meder prepares a nightly menu incorporating the best of both worlds, as illustrated by a now-famous entree: tender braised camel served with sautéed fois gras. The only thing more impressive is the nocturnal panorama of the city skyline – and the reverential, darkened silence of the surrounding museum. IDAM, in the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar, tel. +974 4422 4488 a l a i n - ducasse . com / en / r estau r a nt / i da m

F R E N C H C U ISI N E I N Q A T A R Romain Meder (far left) is head chef at IDAM (left). His signature dish is a chickpea-lentil mousse topped with gold foil (right). Other creations: raspberry-rose pastilla (top) and turbot with chermoula marinade (far left).

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Sports, art and falcons 1

S p o r t s m ecca Tennis, horses, soccer – the sheiks are crazy about sports, and Aspire Park embodies their fervor. The ultra-modern Sports Academy houses Bayern Munich’s winter training grounds, and the Aspire Tower – currently the tallest skyscraper in Doha – presides over it all in impressive fashion.

2

t h e p e r fec t s t r o ll The Corniche is 7 km (4 miles) long and connects the West Bay and its skyscrapers with the southern portion of the city.

When temperatures are “mild”, half the city can be found here, jogging, chatting under the palms and drinking karak.

From here it’s a hop, skip and a jump to the Museum of Islamic Art.

3

falc o n s r u s Right behind the Souq Waqif is a sister market dedicated to a traditional Middle Eastern pastime: resting proudly atop tall perches are falcons for sale. The market also offers fine leather falconry accessories and there’s even a hospital for the birds of prey. The lone drawback – the rather overpowering odor.

d o h a b o a s t s many outstanding hotels, most of which shoot straight up into

the air and are in fact quite similar to one another. Sharq Village is an altogether different experience. Located in the city’s eastern section, this hotel has expanded horizontally instead of vertically. From their first step on the premises, guests are immersed in an opulent environment that evokes the Orient, its architecture based on ancient Arabian building plans. The result is magnificent – spacious villas, each with its own palm courtyard, a sprawling palace containing the hotel lobby and restaurant, and a beach and pool that are among Doha’s finest. For those desiring a first-hand experience of the mystery of the Orient, a sojourn at Sharq Village is a must. Tip: The Arabian buffet offers an estimated 1,001 small-scale culinary miracles. Rooms start at around 350 euros ($475) a night. sh a rqv i ll age . com

“I give Way” bumper stickers on some cars send an admonitory message. Observing right-of-way rules is a rare virtue here.

i nf o r m a t i o n f o r t r a v ele r s The most important recommendations, tips and links in this article are also available online – just scan the QR code with your smartphone (eg. using the Scanlife app) and discover Doha. m b - q r . c o m / 0e I 70

e m o t i o n

Need to know o r i en t ( a t i o n ) In Doha, street names and house numbers are assigned somewhat randomly, and locals often remember addresses using either very generalized directions or by noting significant buildings nearby, of which there is thankfully no shortage.

G E TTI N G A RO U N D Blue “Karwa” taxis are the best and cheapest mode of transportation (base price around 2 euros ($2.75), then 25 cents ($0.33) per km afterward). Unfortunately, there aren’t enough – good luck flagging one down on the street.

Traffic cops and merchants enjoy tipping tourists off as to the location of the – unofficial– taxi stands. One new method of transportation is the Doha Bus, colorful vehicles that run hourly and stop at the city’s

Light up the night TH E ka t a r a d i s t r i c t in the western section of the capital is an independent

municipality, and together with the huge land reclamation project “The Pearl” and the skyscrapers of the West Bay, it embodies new, modern Doha. The beating heart of Katara is a vast amphitheater offering open air performances all year round. A pulsating scene has taken root in the surrounding streets, with galleries, restaurants and cafes bursting to life after 8 pm. Too hot for a stroll?

Doha MU

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most important sites.

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photo gett y images illustration anna linder

b a d S o u v en i r Sunburn. Even on those occasions when the swirling desert sands temporarily blot out the sunlight, the sun is extremely strong and remains so all year round, making head coverings, quality sunglasses and sunblock mandatory.

SI E ST A , TH E N F I E ST A Hot weather and high temperatures make an extended afternoon break mandatory in Qatar.

Many stands and shops don’t open again

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p la t e i t u p “Everybody gains weight in Qatar,” says expert Claire, and she also knows why: people spend a lot of time sitting in their cars, it’s usually too hot to play sports, and above all there’s just too much good food around. Wondering where it all comes from? Just take a quick taxi ride to the main market hall on Sarwa Road. There, friendly merchants hawk gigantic piles of fish, fruit and vegetables. For anyone with access to a kitchen, it’s a veritable paradise: king prawns, for example, are astonishingly cheap. g o o d S o u v en i r s Rosewater and Arabic sweets, nuts and fine handicrafts, as well as jewelry from Gold Souq.

IC

! Let’s go !

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w h ene v e r w e have an urge to wallow in childhood memories, a quick look at a photo album usually suffices. But that wasn’t enough for former ruler Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. In a moment of nostalgia, he realized that Doha’s explosive new growth in glass and steel meant the loss of part of its charming past. His response was to order the construction of a traditional market designed in keeping with his childhood memories. Souq Waqif originated on a drawing board: its market stands look worn and unfinished on purpose.

But the canned nostalgia actually works: spice merchants hawk their wares, authentic clothing and fabrics are in plentiful supply; even Persian Gulf oysters can be had on a nearby side street. Not just the sheik, but also his subjects are grateful that there is once again a place in Doha where modernity cannot intrude.

T RAH

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No visit to Doha would be complete without a trip to the desert, which tends to be a rocky steppe here rather than the vast expanse of sand one might expect. But it has its hidden treasures, like imposing Fort Zubarah in the northwest. The sea view from its battlements is unabashedly romantic. Those hoping to roar across the sand dunes in an off-road vehicle are advised to book a guided tour, of which Doha offers plenty (e.g. qataradventure.com).

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P.S.

digging in

When you consider that the “sharing economy” – that is, one which takes a collective approach to property rather than encouraging outright ownership – only really got going with the development of social networks, it is astonishing how quickly the concept has drilled down to the very roots of sharing. Namely, to the medieval principle of Commons and the communal use of village land. Except for village, now read 21st-century metropolis.

In recent years, community gardens have established themselves in virtually every major German city – over 250 of them at the latest estimate, and all of them a world apart from the garden-fence mentality of traditional allotments.

The most famous of these urban gardening projects is the Prinzessinnengarten in Berlin, set up in 2009 on an area of wasteland the size of a soccer field at Moritzplatz in the city’s Kreuzberg district. It is very much a mobile garden: the plants grow in rice sacks, discarded baker’s crates and Tetrapak milk cartons – ready to disappear in 72

an instant should the city authorities suddenly decide to put the area to new use.

For the moment, however, that appears unlikely: the project has been so successful that its two prime movers and gardening enthusiasts, historian Marco Clausen and filmmaker Robert Shaw, now receive delegations of city planners and mayors from all over the world, eager to see first hand how the project works.

Although the garden began life as a neighborhood help scheme – local bakers donated 340 bread crates, a compost company contributed the soil, Berlin gardens the seeds and cuttings – this is no social project. Today, it is a flourishing small enterprise, with 14 full-time employees and a cafe housed in a converted shipping container. There are no private plots, all volunteers work collectively on the garden as a whole, and those who help out get a discount on any of the produce: rutabaga and blue potatoes, lettuce and herbal oils, and soon honey from the four colonies of bees that have taken up residence.

But these city gardens – from Hamburg’s “Gartendeck” on the roof of a parking garage in the Sankt Pauli quarter and Leipzig’s “Querbeet” all the way to the “Neuland” project on a former industrial site in Cologne – are also a form of social glue. Here, green-fingered Anatolian housewives rub shoulders with eco hipsters keen to get their hands dirty, anxious

Meike Winnemuth spent a whole year living in 12 cities on five continents. She relates her year of experiences in her book Das grosse Los (Knaus). Here she describes her experiences with sharing, borrowing and non-ownership.

Fourth and last in the series: collective gardening makes for more habitable cities.

mothers on the lookout for affordable organic vegetables and pensioners in search of new pastimes out in the fresh air.

The mood is deeply urban: “This was never about a return to rural ways,” Robert Shaw explains, “it simply grew from a passion for urban life.” Where once there were unloved patches of weeds, now there are useful vegetable plots. The idea is irresistible: on Michelle Obama’s initiative, even an area of the White House ornamental garden has been given over to the cultivation of organic vegetables.

So urban gardening, which began with the “seed bombing” and cloakand-dagger campaigns of guerrilla gardeners to transform urban wastelands into flourishing landscapes, has developed from the defiant act of planting flowers around the base of city trees into a movement that has taken hold around the globe.

Where once there was rebellion, now there is mutual respect. Use of land comes with approval from owners, and there are agencies to mediate on the temporary appropriation of land and buildings.

“Do-it-yourself” is now “do-it-together”.

This same concept has also given rise to repair cafes, where help is on hand should you need to fix your bicycle or wobbly furniture.

A brave new world? Only time will tell. But at least our cities are fighting back – and urban gardens < are just the start.

Illustration jörn kaspuhl

growing plants and vegetables as a community proves just what can be achieved with limited urban space. More importantly, as Meike Winnemuth discovers, urban gardening is putting communities back in touch with each other.

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S 350 BlueTec (page 18)

Engine / Output 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel, 190 kW at 3,600 rpm; max. torque 620 Nm at 1,600–2,400 rpm

Transmission

ML 500 4Matic

GLK 220 BlueTec 4Matic

(from page 66)

(page 76)

Acceleration

Engine / Output

Engine / Output

0–100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.8 s

4.7-liter eight-cylinder,

2.2-liter four-cylinder diesel,

300 kW at 5,000–5,750 rpm;

125 kW at 3,200–4,200 rpm;

max. torque

max. torque

600 Nm at 1,600–4,750 rpm

400 Nm at 1,400–2,800 rpm

Transmission

Transmission

7G-Tronic Plus 7-speed automatic

7G-Tronic Plus 7-speed automatic

Acceleration

Acceleration

0–100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.6 s

0–100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.8 s

Top speed

Top speed

Top speed 250 km/h (155 mph)

Fuel consumption urban: 7.3–7.0 l diesel/100 km (32.2–33.6 mpg) inter-urban: 5.1–4.7 l diesel/100 km (46.1–50 mpg) combined: 5.9–5.5 l diesel/100 km (39.8–42.7 mpg)

CO2 emissions (combined) 155–146 g/km (249–235 g/mi)

Energy class A

250 km/h (155 mph)

Fuel consumption uban: 15.2–14.7 l super/100 km (15.4–16 mpg) inter-urban: 9.5–8.9 l super/100 km (24.7–26.4 mpg) combined: 11.5–11.0 l super/100 km (20.4–21.3 mpg)

CO2 emissions (combined) 269–258 g/km (432–415 g/mi)

Energy class F

C i t y T r i p or desert tour – the ML 500 4Matic demonstrates its versatility and prowess in and around Doha.

t h e va l u e s s tat e d were calculated according to the measuring methods specified in the currently applicable version of Directive 80/1268/EWG. The data do not relate to a specific vehicle and are not part of the specification, but are merely for the purpose of comparing different vehicle types.

The figures are provided in accordance with the German regulation “PKW-EnVKV” and apply to the German market only.

205 km/h (127 mph)

Fuel consumption urban: 7.5–7.0 l diesel/100 km (31.3–33.6 mpg) inter-urban: 5.8–5.5 l diesel/100 km (40.5–42.7 mpg) combined: 6.5–6.1 l diesel/100 km (36.2–38.5 mpg)

CO2 emissions (combined) 169–159 g/km (272–255 g/mi)

Energy class B

PHOTOS Anatol Kotte, Frank Bauer, Daimler Ag

7G-Tronic Plus 7-speed automatic

d r i v e

pu bl icat ion de ta i l s Published by Daimler AG · Mercedesstrasse 137 · D-70327 Stuttgart Mailing address Daimler AG · HPC E402 · D-70546 Stuttgart Responsible on behalf of the publishers Thomas Fröhlich · Mirjam Bendak Publications Manager Dr. Denise Heinermann-Bieler Publisher’s Council Ola Kaellenius (Chairman) · Daniel Bartos · Thomas Fröhlich Lüder Fromm · Christoph Horn · Jörg Howe · Gesina Schwengers · Dr. Jens Thiemer Concept and Editing Condé Nast Verlag GmbH · Karlstrasse 23 · D-80333 München Managing Director Moritz von Laffert Editor at Large Philip Reichardt (responsible for editorial content) Art Director Markus Rindermann Managing Editor Tobias Nebl Chief Copy Editor Michael Moorstedt Editorial Contributors Jenny Buchholz, Christoph Henn, Katharina Hesedenz, Sunny Kröger, Michael Moorstedt, Benedikt Sarreiter, Max Scharnigg, Laura Schwerdtner, Meike Winnemuth Deputy Art Director Dirk Meycke Picture Editor Bele Engels Final Editing Edda Benedikt Final Graphics Katja Listl

D R I V E

Men (from left)_trenchcoat, turtleneck, pants: Hermès; shoes: Boss_suit: Hugo; coat: Burberry Prorsum; shoes, shirt: Lagerfeld_turtleneck: Brioni; suit: Polo Ralph Lauren; shoes: Boss All glasses: Gucci Woman_pant suit, belt: Boss; shoes: Louboutin; briefcase: Hermès; trenchcoat: Burberry London

A CAR that almost drives itself. A day with the new luxury Sedan from Mercedes-Benz highlights how intelligent technology redefines our time on the road and ensures an extremely relaxed driving feeling.

Arriving in

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W O R D S M I C H A E L M O O R S T E DT

the future

Condé Nast Manufaktur · www.condenast-manufaktur.de Creative Head Doris Huber Operational Head Wolfgang Sander Advertising Daimler AG Tanja Oder

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P H O T O S A N ATO L KO T T E

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Bottom left (from left)_suit: Hugo; shirt: van Laack; shoes: Hermès_pant suit, blouse, coat: Hermès; shoes: ­Louboutin_suit, shirt: Hugo; tie: Boss; shoes: ­Lagerfeld; briefcase: Cartier_suit: Hackett; turtleneck: ­Brioni; shoes: Boss; briefcase: Hermès All glasses: Gucci Top right_blazer, blouse: Hermès; coat: Cos; watch: Cartier

Sweeping silhouette, harmonious proportions

his was a car that would attract attention of the covetous variety, that much was clear. There were the youngsters – courteous enough to ask permission – posing for a photo. And there was the older man at the filling station earlier, who gave me a nod of acknowledgement as I climbed back in. That was a feel-good moment, I’ll admit. This, though, was something else.

We’d only been away from the car for 15 minutes to grab a coffee, but we returned to find a business card lodged in the gap between the doors. The scribbled note contained an air of desperation: “Cash paid! Now or later! Call any time!” Of all the cars in the car park, our anonymous admirer had nailed his colors to this mast. But after half a day on the road in the new S-Class, there was no way I was going to sell it, even if it had been mine to sell. After all, this is not just any old car, it’s the pinnacle of automotive engineering; put simply, it’s the best car in the world.

We set off from Munich Airport early in the morning. Our job is to present the car with every situation a central European driver will encounter on a day-to-day basis. As the day progresses, we find ourselves checking the items off our list. Slow-moving progress on the highway loop around Munich: check! High-speed stretch on the autobahn between the airport and the city: check! Meandering country roads and tight bends covered in wet leaves and foliage: check… and check! Next up, the city’s identikit suburbs, street after confusingly similar street, scanning for that elusive parking space.

Any city dweller will know the drill.

Before we embarked on our cover-all-bases test drive, though, we’d allowed ourselves a suitably reverent snoop around the outside of the > S-Class. We were greeted by a stretched,

Distribution Daimler AG Uwe Haspel Mercedes-Benz magazine reader service Zenit Pressevertrieb GmbH · Postfach 810580 · D-70552 Stuttgart Tel. 0800 0010001 · leserservice @ zenit-presse.de

GOING TO WORK Business trips are the S-Class’ specialty. New functions offer the comfort of a top exec office.

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D R I V E

PRESTIGIOUS A glance out of the window tells you all you need to know: this is a car that inspires desire.

RELAXED The S-Class relieves stress on the driver – a welcome antidote to long journeys.

coupe-like silhouette and pleasingly harmonious proportions. Before I climbed aboard, the S 350 BlueTec pitched me into an unprecedented dilemma. Would I rather get straight behind the wheel or settle back into one of the rear seats? Boundless luxury or driving passion, passenger or driver? It was a straight choice.

In the end, my desire to explore the car’s driving ability got the nod over the lure of comfort, and we were off. It wasn’t long before I could see the future – here on the road, right now.

We’re driving along the autobahn like every other vehicle, just another participant in the stop-start exchanges of morning traffic. And yet there’s a feeling, justifiable I think, that in the new S-Class you are at the vanguard of a revolution – a revolution in semi-autonomous driving. My job in all of this is simply to relax behind the wheel. The car is already doing many things by itself; steering, braking, picking

up speed again. In the stereo camera alongside the rear-view mirror and the ultrasound and radar sensors behind the bumpers I am joined by indefatigable, undistractable, always objective co-drivers, their “eyes” peeled on every area of the car at all times. More than a dozen little electronic helpers are working away in the S-Class to relieve the stress on the driver. And when we reach our destination, the car will, naturally, park itself.

But we don’t ever feel “nannied” by the assistance systems, just in good, safe hands. Leaving the city limits behind us we lock into full cruising mode. That means exploring the engine’s 190 kW and doing some serious “mile munching”. The crudeness of this expression is out of kilter with a car you can sense slipping through the air (it has an outstanding Cd of just 0.24) and which is so effectively insu> lated from outside noise. The Magic Body

Top left (clockwise)_coat: Boss; suit: ­Brioni; turtleneck: Hackett _suit: Hugo; turtleneck: Boss; briefcase: Luis Vuitton_coat, suit: Hackett; shirt: van Laack; briefcase: Hermès_coat: Boss; shoes, kelly bag: Hermès All glasses: Gucci Bottom left_dress, glasses: Prada Top right (from left)_suit: Hugo; turtleneck: Boss_jacket: Tommy Hilfiger; tie: Boss_suit, tie: Boss; shirt: Brioni

BIG SCREEN The display above the center console has a diagonal of 30 centimeters (11.8 in.).

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Production Daimler AG Jennifer Helke Pre Media Solutions Meyle + Müller GmbH+Co. KG Maximilianstrasse 104 · D-75172 Pforzheim Printing Stark Druck GmbH + Co. KG Im Altgefäll 9 · D-75181 Pforzheim

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Top left (from left)_suit: Brioni; turtleneck: Hackett; shoes: Hermès; briefcase: Luis Vuitton_suit: Burberry Prorsum; shirt: Boss; briefcase: Hermès; shoes: Lagerfeld_blazer, blouse: Hermès, skirt: Porsche Design; shoes: Hermès; coat: Cos_suit: Hackett; shirt: Dolce & Gabbana; tie: Windsor; shoes: Boss; coat: Burberry Prorsum Bottom right_suit, blouse, coat: Hermès; glasses: Gucci

Majestic power, inner calm S E L F - S TA R T E R The S-Class is the equal of any situation on the road.

It can even drive itself in stop-start city traffic.

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Control function, which detects bumps and potholes in advance and adjusts the springs and damping accordingly, is reserved for the S 500, but our S-Class also glides over the autobahn with regal elegance. Majestic power delivery and inner calm come as standard in the new S-Class. Not that, as the driver, you feel removed from the action. Quite the opposite, in fact. With Lane Keeping Assist, the proximity control system Distronic Plus and Blind Spot Assist all activated, one little finger on the steering wheel is sufficient to navigate this powerful, five-meter-plus (over 16-ft) flagship down the road.

The thought persists that the S-Class is already capable of doing more things independently than road traffic regulations and lawmakers allow. And so the car ensures that I continue to take responsibility for our progress. If I let go of the steering wheel, the system waits

ALERT At night, the headlamp beam adapts to the oncoming traffic.

ten seconds before prompting me, by means of a red-colored graphic, to return my hands to the rim. The message is reinforced by a louder warning tone. The S-Class is only satisfied when I have the wheel back securely in my grip.

Even now, Lane Keeping Assist makes its presence felt when a correction in the car’s line is required. Its mix of autopilot and power steering is unfamiliar at fi rst, but you soon get the idea: the driver sets the general course and the car takes care of the precision work. The Mercedes-Benz development engineers are aiming to use this system to relieve the stress of the driver over long distances. And it’s certainly true that, even after fi ve hours of driving, I feel incredibly rested and revived.

Office or living room on wheels

C O M F O R TA B L E The S-Class provides an inviting place to relax on a journey between appointments.

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When you mention the S-Class, references to a mobile office tend not to be far away. And it goes without saying that all the necessary office-related systems work without a hitch.

I’ve used the Linguatronic function to dictate our destinations to the car, and the wireless hot spot has allowed us to hook up to the Internet in our breaks from driving, while our smartphones furiously exchange data with the infotainment system. It is all easily controlled using the huge, split-screen display, on which the dashboard dials gain fully digital animation. The driver holds sway over dozens of configurations – too many to become properly acquainted with in just a few hours.

Business travel may be the S-Class’ forte, but the car can also be seen as an inviting mobile living room. Darkness is gathering after the

i S 350 BlueTec Engine / Output 3.0-liter six-cylinder, 190 kW at 3,600 rpm; max. torque 620 Nm (457 lb-ft) at 1,600 – 2,400 rpm

Transmission 7G-Tronic Plus 7-speed automatic

Safety The Belt Bag protects rear seat passengers in a crash. An airbag inside the seat belt strap inflates it to almost three times its normal width.

This additional inflated surface mitigates the impact of an accident.

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Top left (from left)_tuxedo, shirt: Prada_dress: Hugo; watch: ­Cartier Bottom left (from left)_woman’s suit: Chanel_man’s suit: Hugo; turtleneck: Boss_coat: Boss; suit: Brioni; turtleneck: Hackett_coat, suit: Hackett; shirt: van Laack All glasses: Gucci

D R I V E

day’s testing and a light drizzle has started to fall. The ambient lighting, which offers a choice of seven colors, releases a soft shade of reddish-orange to encourage coziness in the interior, while smooth jazz flows out from the Burmester sound system, and the warm air chambers in the backrest (part of the hotstone massage function) work out the tension in my lumbar region. A whole armada of electric motors, meanwhile, ensure I am sitting more comfortably than in any armchair. It isn’t only the people inside the S-Class who benefit from its talents, though; other road users also stand to gain. The Intelligent Light System, for example, graciously adapts the beam from the headlamps to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic.

As our day in the S-Class comes to an end, I find myself backtracking on my hesitation at the beginning of the test: when there is so much comfort on offer, autonomous driving < mcannot come soon enough.

Mood Ambient lighting – in the form of a wraparound band of light – uses seven different colors to enhance the feeling of onboard comfort.

Further technical data and fuel consumption figures can be found on page 74.

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Production: Peak Productions; Styling: Lynn Schmidt, Assistant: Ourania Marmara; Hair and makeup: Alex Hofmann/Kult Artists; Photo assistant: Mike Krüger; Digital Operator: Paula Holtz Models: Lina/Modelwerk, Craig and David/Kult Model Agency, Raphael/Talents Models

with special thanks for the kind support from The CHARLES HOTEL, munich.

Rights Reprints and use, as a whole or in part, only with the express written permission of Daimler AG. No responsibility can be taken for unsolicited texts and photographs. Signed articles do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher or the editors. No guarantee is given for information on vehicle equipment and accessories. For binding information and prices please refer to the official Daimler AG sales documentation. All other content in this magazine has been compiled to the best of our knowledge, but no guarantee is given.

Mercedes-Benz magazine appears quarterly, with editions published under cooperation or license in 40 languages.

Number 331, 59th year of publication Printed on chlorine-free paper · Printed in Germany 6720033102 ISSN 1617-6677

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S

habnam Kohestani and Andreas Richter live in Berlin-Mitte. Andreas is the chief executive of an Internet company and currently training to become a yoga instructor; Shabnam is an interior designer. The couple drove the Mercedes-Benz GLK from Munich to Kitzbühel on our behalf and tested the SUV over every type of terrain. Their verdict: “The GLK is the perfect symbiosis of compactness and solidity that makes you feel at ease anywhere – whether in urban traffic, on the highway or in the mountains.” They were also impressed by its spaciousness: “We gave a lift to three backpackers,” explains Andreas, “who traveled with us for a while with their really large packs. I was worried at first that there might not be enough room. But in the end that wasn’t an issue: the trunk was so big it made > the rucksacks look like sports bags.”

he says, she says For her, what counts is a hands-free system.

For him, there has to be a sense of order – or was it the other way round? Women and men have different priorities – especially when it comes to cars. Here we ask a young couple about their experience with the compact SUV.

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w o r d s L a u r a S c h w e r dt n e r

p h o t o s Es a d C i c i c

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Shabnam, 30

Andreas, 30

Profession

Profession

Interior designer

Managing director

Kilometers per week

Kilometers per week

Less than 100 (60 miles), a drive out into the country on weekends

Anything from 0 to 1,000 (600 miles)

Status Will drive anything – car, van, mobile home or bus

Status

group photo in front of the former Grand Hotel Kitzbühel.

Previous Mercedes experience only on the backseat of a taxi

the glk has the

look of a real action hero.

And the chrome trim gives it some real attitude. andreas richter

raring to go From Kitzbühel into the mountains: the GLK is up for any challenge.

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cross - country Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good to know that the off-roader is equally at home off the beaten track.

the engine has so much power, you feel you could climb the Zugspitze with it. s h a b n a m ko he s ta ni

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andreas WHAT I M PR E SS E D M E about the GLK was

with special thanks for the kind support from the Q! Resort Health & Spa , Kitzbühel.

that it is not quite as “fat” as a GL, but a little more solid in appearance than the GLA. In other words, it looks ready for adventure, yet still fits into a parking space. The man who demonstrated the car to us was very thorough and explained every detail. He was concerned that we should get on well with the car. The photographer, on the other hand, wanted us to give the GLK a thorough testing – after all, a cross-country vehicle should have a bit of dirt on its wheels.

With the weather as it was, the car didn’t have to wait long for its first few splashes of mud – all of which it handled without a problem. The car has the distinctive looks of an all-action hero and the chrome trim gives it some real attitude. The seats can be wound so far back, they could pass for berths in first class.

I was amazed at the Bluetooth connection with my smartphone. When I got back into the car, the music started playing exactly where it left off when I got out; and when I picked up the phone, it automatically switched to the hands-free system without my having to press any buttons.

Loading luggage into a trunk has always been one of life’s less welcome challenges, particularly when it’s raining and your soft bag is soaked before you even get the tailgate up. So we were really impressed with the automatic trunk lid, which allows you to throw your luggage into the back as you walk past and close the dripping door without even having to touch it – that certainly makes life a whole lot easier.

i GLK 220 BlueTec 4Matic Engine / Output 2.2-liter four-cylinder diesel 125 kW at 3,200–4,200 rpm; max. torque 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) at 1,400–2,800 rpm

Transmission 7G-Tronic Plus 7-speed automatic

Clean as a whistle The BlueTec emission control system makes the GLK’s diesel engine as clean as a gasoline unit – part of the reason why the car is already Euro 6-compliant.

Aesthetic appeal With 4Matic all-wheel drive, the GLK cuts an elegant figure both on and off the beaten track. The optional AMG Exterior Sports package emphasizes the dynamic character of the compact SUV.

Further technical data and fuel consumption figures can be found on page 74.

Shabnam I WAS R E L I E V E D to discover that the GLK was still compact in appearance, despite its off-road credentials.

For although I like to sit up high for a good overview of the situation, I never really feel relaxed driving big cars. This is something I notice in particular when the lanes on the highway get narrower if there are roadworks and I’m suddenly hit by that queasy feeling. But the GLK was excellent. It was fun to drive from the moment I put my foot on the pedal – acceleration was every bit as powerful as I had expected.

At the same time, the car is so smooth and the engine so quiet that we didn’t have to yell at each other on the highway, and Andreas even managed to do a bit of work on his laptop. The interior is ordered in appearance as well as having aesthetic appeal, and we could see the mountains through the glass roof, which is really cool.

The onboard computer was very user-friendly, and I quickly became a fan of the Blind Spot Assist as well as the windshield wipers, which do the job by themselves as soon as it starts raining. But it took me a little while to get used to the steering column gearshift – I’m such a creature of habit and I kept finding neutral whenever I shifted gear.

For the photos, we put the cross-country nature of the GLK to the test and raced up and down a mountain.

The engine has so much power, you feel you could climb the Zugspitze with it. Of course it was a bit chilly at the top, but the electric seats warmed us up better than a roaring log fire. A good thing too, as given the weather, there was no room left in the hotel sauna. < 79

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ew York Fashion Week is hard to beat when it comes to star turnout. Nicole Kidman, Rihanna, Madonna, Jessica Alba – they all came to the catwalk shows and parties revolving around the Lincoln Center. The spotlight was on fluorescent summer shades by Ralph Lauren and tennis-inspired clothes courtesy of Lacoste and Lisa Perry, while Marc Jacobs’ dark Victorianesque garments brought the house down. His show lasted a mere 13 minutes, but the thrill continues to reverberate.

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Fashion at large

Marc Jacobs concluded Fashion Week with a collection that evoked the 19th century and delighted the audience.

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photos Get t y Images/Daimler AG (9), Corbis (1), Reuters (1)

the mercedes-benz Fashion Week in New York is the curtain-raiser for the fashion show season. While the designers presented their spring and summer 2014 collections, the entire city was transformed into one big catwalk.

M O M E N T S

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1. Dynamic cuts and strong colors from Vera Wang 2. ­Carine ­Roitfeld in the ­Mercedes-Benz Fashion Lounge, flanked by Stephen Gan and Sui He with photographer duo Max von Gumppenberg (left) and Patrick Bienert on the outside 3. Nicole Kidman, Rooney Mara and ­Naomie Harris at the Calvin Klein show 4. Color kaleidoscope courtesy of Diane von Fürstenberg 5. Katie Holmes on her way to the Michael Kors show 6. Drew Barrymore and Marc ­Jacobs backstage 7. Zac Posen presented magical robes fit for princesses 8. Anna Wintour at Tory Burch 9. Shades of blue by Lacoste 10. Models Julie Henderson, Lisalla Montenegro, Kelly Brady, Nicole Trunfio, Natalie Zfat and Alyssa Capanella (from left)

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Ehrliche Lautsprecher

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ICONS speed

1 . 3 9 x 10 - 8 k m / h ( 8 . 6 x 10 - 9 m p h ) or a centimeter (about 1/2 in.) a month is how fast a single hair on your head grows. That may sound slow, but consider this: applied across an entire head, it means the average person grows about 30 meters (100 ft) of hair per day.

0.003 km/h (0.002 mph) or three meters per hour is officially a snail’s pace. But even traveling at that rate on a telltale frictionreducing mucus trail, the animals don’t win the slowpoke prize: some starfish go even slower.

360 m km/h (224 M mph) is lightning fast. At that rate, a thunderstorm’s electrical discharges reach nearly one-third the speed of light. At around 30,000°C (54,000°F), lightning bolts are also nature’s hottest show on Earth.

3.6 km/h (2.2 mph) is the maximum speed of a comfortable walk. It’s also the speed of a snowflake as it gently descends to the ground.

Thicker snowflakes don’t fall any faster, by the way, because a snow crystal’s surface area and weight increase proportionately to one other.

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the speed allowable on an average road is indicated by signs which a speed limit assistant can read. In everyday life and in nature, there’s no such thing as a speed limit. Here’s an overview from incredibly slow to ultra-fast.

6 0 . 6 k m / h ( 37. 6 m p h ) is the top speed on the way up the 509-meter-high (1,669-ft) Taipei 101 skyscraper. The elevator races to the 89th floor in 37 seconds – a world record. At a mere 36 km/h (22 mph), the high-speed elevator in the world’s tallest skyscraper – Dubai’s Burj Khalifa – still finishes a very respectable third.

1. 07 b n k m / h ( 6 21 M m p h ) – almost the speed of light – is how fast an email can travel.

Researchers achieved these data transfer speeds using hollow fiber-optic cable. Supercomputers and data centers stand to benefit, while average-Joe users continue to tear their hair over slow DSL lines.

Illustration Leandro Castelao/Dutchuncle phOTOS Fotolia words christoph henn

16 0 k m / h ( 10 0 m p h ) The average speed in the passing lane of an autobahn roughly equals the velocity of the air current that exits your nose and mouth when you sneeze. It’s not a good idea to fight against that sort of speed – so let those sneezes out!