Issue 1·2012
Mercedes-Benz
w w w.m ercedes - m agaz i ne.c o m
issn
1 6 17 – 667 7
1·2012
C 63 AMG Coupe Black Series Laureus World Sports Awards Ayrton Senna and his 190 E
STAR-STUDDED CAST The new SL steals every scene
THE NEW A-CLASS Geared to the future ALUMINUM Lightweight evolution FRUGAL E 300 BlueTec Hybrid TOPS Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner WINTERPROOF Lech am Arlberg
M E L B O U R N E , M A R C H 18 , 2 012
PHOTO: DAIMLER AG / COVER: MARC TR AUTMANN, MARKUS BOLSINGER, DAIMLER AG
B L I N D T E X T, 19 . 0 6 . 2 010
M I S S I O N
T H E S H A D O W of his famous father Keke no longer obscures the achievements of Nico Rosberg. The Formula 1 driver has yet to emulate Rosberg snr. in securing a World Championship title, of course, but that would appear to be a matter of when rather than if. Indeed, alongside ambition, incredible driving talent and an unwavering will to win, it is the consistency of the Mercedes AMG Petronas pilot in delivering when it matters that stands out most. Barely does a race go by without Nico finishing in the points, barely a season where the upper reaches of the final standings do not feature his name. His ever-deepening well
MELBOURNE
Shining light
www . mercedes - amg - f 1 . com
of experience also benefits the team, needless to say: the 26-year-old’s racing mind gives the pit engineers an astute personal insight into where the car can be improved, to go with the data gathered from the car’s telemetry. This expertise is sure to prove valuable over the coming season; perhaps it will even tip the balance in Nico’s bid to thread his F1 Mercedes around the circuit faster than any other man/machine combination. With 20 races on the 2012 calendar, this is set to be a long season, but also one promising great excitement for F1 fans around the world.
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Mercedes-Benz 1·2 0 1 2
MONITOR
8
6
NEW WORLD Visions, ideas and innovations for the future
10
WHEELS FOR REELS
12
HEART TO HEART
14
VISIONS
A designer from Germany creates Hollywood’s sci-fi vehicles
The E300 BlueTec Hybrid is the most fuel-efficient luxury-class car
Mercedes looks to the future at the LA Design Challenge
AUTOMOTIVE
PERFORMANCE
16
OUT OF L.A.
48
DRIVING FORCE
30
MILE AFTER MILE
50
BL ACK BE AUT Y
34
FL AWLE S S DE S IG N
54
ALL CHANGE
44
HIGH ACHIE VER
56
POWER BOOST
Somehow familiar, yet so much better – the new SL
A Mercedes fan drives all the way from Bahrain to the Nürburgring
The second-generation CLS has extended its lead even further
An interview with mountainslayer Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner
The fascination of motorsports, speed and technology
C63 AMG Coupe Black Series – the most powerful C of all time
The DTM has rewritten the rules; Mercedes is ready
Road-ready F1 technology: the KERS system
MODERN
MOBILITY
MOMENTS
60
I N S P I R AT I O N
74
INDULGENCE
94
62
LEADING EDGE
76
PEAK SEASON
70
M I R A C L E M E TA L
90
S OUR P OW E R
Art, culture, architecture and style to whet your curiosity
Design mastery: the new A-Class flexes its muscles
Aluminum is a dazzling success – not just in the new SL
Journeys, places, pleasures and lifestyles to dream of
SPORTS OSCARS Celebrities celebrate the Laureus World Sports Awards
Lech beckons with deep snow and other highlights
Manfred Klimek sniffs out delicacies. This time: balsamic vinegar
STA N DA R DS
5 M I S S I O N Nico Rosberg
88 JUS T PAS SING Peter Glaser bids farewell to familiar sights 89 MASTHE AD
PHOTO: MARC TR AUTMANN
98 RETROSPECTIVE Ayrton Senna and his 190 E
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ARCHITECTURE
The Formosa Tower in Taiwan is due for completion in 2017
Garden with view www . twtower . com . tw
I N T A I W A N , the Formosa Tower is due for completion in 2017. This huge yet delicate-looking steel structure 300 meters (almost 1,000 ft) high boasts a large roof garden – a modern oasis in urban surroundings. “It is supposed to do for our century what the Eiffel Tower did for the 19th,” explains its Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto. Illuminated by LED lamps, the tower has integrated solar cells, rainwater collection and wind turbines.
I N N O V A T I O N S
V I S I O N S
I D E A S
F U T U R E
P E O P L E
M O N I T O R Growth industry www . dwiseman . com
Cherry Blossom Canopy by David Wiseman
RESORT
Short-term paradise www . papayaplayaproject . com
T H E “ P A P A Y A P L A Y A P R O J E C T ” in Tulum, Mexico, is an experiment in creating a temporary paradise – a “pop-up” beach resort that shuts down its 99 cabañas (which range from those with a sea view to jungle huts with bunk beds) after a mere five months. For this short period, the project offers not so much luxury as relaxation in the sun, with a spa, yoga and concerts. In mid-May it is supposed to close again, but the man behind it all – Claus Sendlinger – won’t exclude the possibility that the dream might be prolonged.
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PHOTOS: PR, PORTR AIT: JEAN - LUC LUYSSEN/MADAME FIGARO
ART
The Cabañas cost between 60 and 380 euros per night
A R T I S T David Wiseman designs flowers and climbing plants that grow up walls and across ceilings. The blossoms are made of porcelain and the branches and leaves of copper, brass, steel or plaster. Wiseman usually creates white gardens on the ceilings of private clients’ houses, but also decorated Dior’s Shanghai boutique with lilies of the valley. “I want to bring nature into people’s houses,” says Wiseman – by way of explaining his latest project: West Hollywood Library has recently found a white tree growing up its stairwell.
SPORT
More than a canoe www . backyak . de
Boticelli's Simonetta as a backseat driver
T H E B A C K Y A K may not be able to do everything – but it is certainly pretty versatile. The canoe can be taken to bits and carried on your back like a sort of barrel-shaped rucksack. When it is assembled it holds two adults and a child, but can also be split into two (see below). However, there’s more to it than that: add a few extra elements and it turns into a raft, a catamaran or even a toboggan. Made of carbon fiber, it is 5.4 meters (almost 18 ft) long and weighs 18 kilograms (40 lb), with the weight distributed across the two rucksacks that also form part of its hull. From 3,790 euros.
DESIGN
Sun blind www . julianappelius . de
O N S U N N Y D A Y S many cars can be seen with comic figures
and cute puppies in their side windows – but only seldom do you come across an aesthetically pleasing sun blind. Designers Karen Olze and Julian Appelius had this in mind when they came up with the idea of “Blind Passengers”: Boticelli’s favorite model can now be glimpsed surveying the evening snarl-up, Vermeer’s Girl with the Pearl Earring can be seen flirting at the red lights, and even Rembrandt’s Jesus gazes serenely at the passing landscape. Around 11.50 euros.
D E S I G N E R and artist Mathieu Lehanneur has created an installation that can forecast the weather – acting as a sort of window into the future. A data terminal collects real-time weather information and creates an impressionistic picture of the sky on a round screen. For Lehanneur, “Demain est un autre jour” (Tomorrow is another day) is an opportunity to investigate the principles of uncertainty, unavoidability and spirituality more closely. That’s all well and good – but it also functions as a highly attractive weather forecaster.
The Backyak can be split into two for canoeing with a friend
VISION
A window on the future www . mathieulehanneur . fr
Artist Mathieu Lehanneur 9
A U T O M O T I V E
H
arald Belker doesn’t look much like a time-traveler, with his designer stubble and a casual shirt that clearly doesn’t come from
the future. But appearances can be deceptive: Belker is a man who spends most of his working day in the year 2035. What’s it like? He smiles and takes a deep breath: “Man, it’s big there.” The German automotive designer is currently working in Los Angeles on the Pulse film project, for which he is developing streamlined magnetic levitation vehicles that zoom through urban canyons between glittering skyscrapers. The vehicles are destined to offer a high-speed spectacle that will make today’s
FILM CARS
Wheels for reels
tive design at the famous Art Center College
A German designer is busy creating futuristic vehicles for Hollywood’s sci-fi heroes.
of Design in Pasadena, and subsequently
words hannah sartorius
Formula 1 racing cars look like horse-drawn carriages. Harald Belker studied automo-
10
Pulse is destined one day to replace Formula 1 – Belker is already designing the racetracks and a wide range of different vehicles. He was also involved in designing the Batmobile (bottom right) for the film Batman and Robin.
worked for some years in the Mercedes-Benz
retinal scan. And for Tron: Legacy, released in
and speech recognition in Star Wars. Today,
Advanced Design Unit in Orange County before
2010, he was also involved in developing the fa-
these are part of our everyday lives.”
settling in California.
mous light motorcycles that race across virtual
So even though Belker no longer works for an
On the sideboard in his office in L. A. he has a
surfaces leaving a trail of pixels in their wake.
automotive company, one could argue that he is still, in a way, designing tomorrow’s cars. And
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF HAR ALD BELKER DESIGN
collection of small model cars on display. However, most of his vehicle designs can be found
The automobile as metaphor
every year he sends his latest prototypes and
not on the street but on the cinema screen: Belk-
Harald Belker works with screenplay authors
concept cars off to a very special test circuit –
er is the most sought-after vehicle designer in
rather than engineers. “I wish there were more
the cinema screen.
Hollywood’s film industry.
films in which a vehicle plays a leading role,”
Whenever a sci-fi film director wants a means
he comments. After all, the automobile and the
of transportation worthy of being seen on the
dream of individual freedom that goes with it is
highways in 2045, he turns to the man from
a central element in modern man’s self-percep-
Germany – the birthplace of the automobile.
tion. So when Belker redesigns the automobile
Back in the 1990s, Belker designed the Batmo-
for the year 2035 or 2080, he is at the same time
bile for the comedy film Batman and Robin. “The
painting a picture of the social values of that
movie was terrible,” he admits, but everyone
particular era.
vividly remembers the vehicle with its aggres-
“Science-fiction films have a huge influence on
sive gothic styling.
our culture,” says Belker. They are, he argues,
For Steven Spielberg’s dystopian vision of the fu-
more realistic than you might imagine. “They
ture in Minority Report (2002), Belker designed
embody our vision of tomorrow’s technologies.
a futuristic vehicle that Tom Cruise unlocks by
People were first introduced to touchscreens 11
M O N I T O R
EFFICIENT MOBILITY
Heart to heart
S TAT S
E-Class E 300 BlueTec Hybrid Sedan Engine / Output Combustion engine: 2.1-liter four-cylinder diesel, 150 kW at 4,200 rpm; max torque 500 Nm at 1,800 rpm; electric motor: 20 kW; max torque 250 Nm Transmission 7G-Tronic Plus Acceleration 0–100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.5 s Top speed 242 km/h (150 mph) Fuel consumption urban: 4.3–4.2 l diesel/100 km (54.7–56 mpg) intra-urban: 4.3–4.2 l diesel/100 km (54.7–56 mpg) combined: 4.3–4.2 l diesel/100 km (54.7–56 mpg)
Twin motors, fewer refueling stops: the car of the future combines power with fuel efficiency.
CO2 emissions combined: 109 g/km (175 g/mi)
words michael moorstedt
Cd 0.26
U N V E I L E D to the public at the Detroit Auto
tionally powered siblings. You wouldn’t think
Show early this year, the car of the future
that Mercedes-Benz had just revolutionized
seems remarkably familiar. On the outside,
the luxury class and created the most fuel-
there’s nothing to tell the Mercedes-Benz
efficient full-size sedan in the world. For the
E 300 BlueTec Hybrid apart from its conven-
hood of this model shelters not one motor but
The values stated 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 “PKWEnVKV” and apply to the German market only. www.mercedes-benz.com
two: a four-cylinder diesel engine alongside an
The bar display is a fun incentive to adopt an even more fuel-efficient driving style 12
power to support all-electric operation over
act as a generator when the driver steps on the
short distances.
brake. As a result, some of the vehicle’s kinetic
So the moral, once again, is that appearances
energy is converted back into electric power,
can be deceptive – even if those first appear-
which is stored in the lithium-ion battery pack.
ances happen to be very easy on the eye,
And the drive system features another fuel-
thanks to the classically elegant design lan-
saving feature: it can support coasting with
guage that marks out this Mercedes-Benz, too.
the engine switched off.
The NEDC fuel consumption of the E 300 Blue-
The new model, unlike many other hybrids, in-
Tec Hybrid comes out close to the four-liter
volves no compromises on driver or passenger
mark, at 4.3 liters per 100 kilometers (54.7 mpg),
comfort: thanks to intelligent packaging, the
to be precise. This is assisted by an intelligent
electric motor and batteries fit easily into the
start/stop system in addition to regenerative
engine compartment with no loss of interior
braking, which causes the electric motor to
space or storage capacity.
PHOTOS: PL AINPICTURE; DAIMLER AG
electric drive motor, which generates enough
The Mercedes-Benz Silver Lightning made a triumphant appearance in L.A.
M O N I T O R C O M P ETI TI ON
Design Challenge Every year during the Los Angeles Auto Show, the LA Design Challenge – one of the most prestigious events in the industry calendar – grants automotive designers an opportunity to present their visions of the future.
DESIGN STUDIES
Future visions The Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studios caused quite a stir with the spectacular concepts they unveiled at the 2011 Los Angeles Design Challenge. words martin trockner
E V E R Y Y E A R since 2005, the Design Challenge has taken place as part of the Los Angeles The smart 341 Parkour (left) was singled out for an award. Bird’s-eye view of a Silver Arrow study (below)
Auto Show. It sets out to identify the outstanding ideas and creative designs that – sooner rather than later – are going to impact on our sense of style. Last year, the distinguished panel of judges was looking for the most spectacular new film car for Hollywood, and the designers from Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studios in Sindelfingen and Carlsbad (USA) walked away with two awards. Their short film about the Mercedes-Benz Silver Lightning – involving two rebellious crash dummies speeding through a futuristic megacity to rescue their “Best Animation”. And another award went to the smart 341 Parkour as the most spectacular new screen automobile for Hollywood. It was the second time that smart had won an award in this prestigious competition.
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PHOTOS: DAIMLER AG
beloved Mercedes Silver Arrow – was declared
BLOUSE : STELL A MCCARTNEY; PANTS : DIOR ; SHOES : GIUSEPPE ZANOT TI ; SUNGL ASSES : CHLOE
A U T O M O T I V E
Sporty, comfy, pacey...
16
It's the perfect roadster.
OUT OF
And check out
those edgy looks.
words lukas m. guster
p h o t o s m a r c t r au t m a n n
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A U T O M O T I V E
STYLISH The SL has a great figure seen from the front and the back. It’s all in the genes.
18
19
P. 18–21: SUNGLASSES: DIOR, CHLOE
A U T O M O T I V E
20
OPEN HEART, OPEN MIND With the roof folded away in the trunk, it’s time to enjoy that SL Roadster feeling. It takes just 16 seconds to feel the wind in your hair.
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LUXURY Inside the SL there’s more room than ever. Complete with classy decor. 22
A UMT AO GMAOZ TI INV E
23
A U T O M O T I V E
STAR QUALITY The new SL is the George Clooney of roadsters: charming, athletic, cultured. Oh yes – and rather sexy…
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FACING PAGE: DRESS: MICHAEL KORS / THIS PAGE: DRESS: HERVE LEGER
T
he sun is high in that blue Californian sky. The baking asphalt is shimmering in the noonday heat. The highway stretches arrow-straight away into infinity. It’s time for a showdown – with the new SL-Class Roadster. No contest: sunlight glances blindingly off the chrome star on the radiator grille, so it’s impossible to look straight at the matte-gray car. The world-famous Mercedes symbol has been reworked for this latest generation of the legendary two-letter sports car, and now merges seamlessly with the chrome strip across the center of the grille. Externally, the Roadster appears almost unchanged, even to familiar eyes. And yet the subtle differences are there. The new SL is 5 centimeters (2 in.) longer and 5.7 cm (2.2 in.) wider than its predecessor: sculpted contours and sharp angles give the car a powerful, almost aggressive look, further enhanced by upward-slanting headlights. The new SL is elegant and exciting – a real bad-boy aristocrat.
No need to flaunt it If you stand directly in front of the car, it’s clear the shoulders are wider and the body tapers slightly toward the front. Despite this muscular impression, it’s no surprise to find the Roadster has a lower drag coefficient than ever: the air resistance of outer skin, wheels and underside has been minimized. That’s as it should be – after all, the first SL, built back in 1952, was a racing car. And 60 years on, the development team remembered one of the striking features of that early ancestor, the 300 SL: its lightweight construction. SL actually stands for Sport Lightweight, and the most recent addition to the family tree does full justice to the badge. Built almost entirely out of aluminum, the new SL weighs up to 140 kg (approx. 300 lbs) less than its steel predecessor, BAD BOY Every good girl loves a bad boy. The SL can flex those muscles better than most.
improving the luxury sports car’s fuel efficiency and handling. The California sun is still beating mercilessly down – it’s enough to make a girl glow. But not for long: turn the key in the ignition and the goodhumored growl of the engine instantly
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P. 22: BLOUSE: R ACHEL ROY P.23: DRESS: HERVE LEGER; BLOUSE: STELL A MCCARTNEY, PANTS: DIOR; SHOES: GIUSEPPE Z ANOT TI: SUNGL ASSES: CHLOE; P. 26: DRESS: PORTS 1961, TIGHTS: WOLFORD, SHOES: GIUSEPPE ZANOT TI P. 27: DRESS: MARCHESA
A U T O M O T I V E
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A U T O M O T I V E brings on the goosebumps. No over-excited roar-
With the roof up, external noise is almost com-
ing or howling here – we’re not talking crude
pletely banished. The Active Body Control (ABC)
muscle car, we’re talking refined speedster. The
intelligent suspension system soaks up bumps
SL 500 is powered by a new 4.7-liter, V-8 gaso-
and potholes so you don’t even notice them – it’s
line engine producing a magnificent 320 kW.
like gliding on ice.
Maximum torque has jumped by 32 percent to
But hit the curves and the sporty side comes out,
700 Newton meters. And yet despite all this extra
with no loss of confidence or control. A low center
potency, fuel consumption is down by 22 percent
of gravity and neutral weight distribution make
– helped along by a new start/stop function, fitted
for a perfectly balanced driving experience – the
as standard.
electro-mechanical Direct Steer system responds
S TAT S
SL Roadster SL 500 BlueEfficiency Engine / Output 4.7-liter V-8 engine, 320 kW at 5,250 rpm; max. torque 700 Nm at 1,800–3,500 rpm Transmission 7G-Tronic Plus 7-speed automatic Acceleration 0–100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.6 s
with exceptional precision. What’s so special
And seductive murmurs, too…
about it? It adjusts to match the car’s speed and
Don’t be misled by the gracious manners – this
steering angle, which means that, as well as giv-
isn’t an engine to underestimate. The eight cylin-
ing you extreme agility through bends and ulti-
ders run so quietly, the 7G-Tronic Plus automatic
mate straightline stability, it makes the car easy
transmission so smoothly, that you may find the
to park, too.
speedo needle nudging the limit before you’re
Now all that lies before us is the sun-drenched
aware of it. This is a car that treads softly – un-
highway – nothing else to see but barren land-
less you push it. Put your foot down and the V-8
scape stretching away to the horizon on all sides.
growl swells to a roar as the car sprints from zero
Time to give it some gas and head for the hills.
to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 4.6 seconds. And
Everything flows together in a perfect, timeless
yet inside the car, all is calm, even as the harsh
moment – a twitch of the volume control and you
desert landscape flies past.
can feel the music pulsing from the FrontBass
Top speed 250 km/h (155 mph) (electronically limited) Fuel consumption urban: 12.9–12.7 l Super/100 km (18.2–18.5 mpg) inter-urban: 7.1–7.0 l Super/100 km (33.1–33.6 mpg) combined: 9.2–9.1 l Super/100 km (25.6–25.9 mpg) CO2 emissions combined: 214–212 g/km (344–341 g/mi) Energy rating E
Gorgeous materials, lovingly crafted, for a truly luxurious interior
Cd 0.29 Luggage capacity 364–504 liters The values stated 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.
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W 19 8 The inspiration for the 300 SL Roadster was no lesser model than the Gullwing.
1963–1971
W 121 The 190 SL is the first open-topped production sports car in the SL family.
1957–1963
A family that became a legend
1955–1963
www.mercedes-benz.com
W 113 The roofline of the hardtop W 113 earned it the nickname “Pagoda”.
Slanted headlights give the SL the poised look of a powerful predator ready for the kill.
IN THE BEST TRADITION
of the blade and wipes it away immediately, so
The 300 SL’s successor picks up the gauntlet of its legendary forebears.
It’s part of the safety culture that has long been
the driver’s view of the road is never obscured. a paramount consideration for Mercedes. Indeed, this luxury sports car is fitted with all the safety and driver support systems the development team has ever thought up, from Pre-Safe accident prevention through Distronic Plus prox-
concealed vents in the headrest issue a steady
imity control to automated parking, courtesy of
A steel-blue sky is visible through the Magic Sky
stream of warm air, meaning you can continue
Active Parking Assist.
Control roof – one press of a button and the roof
driving with the top down well into the cooler
It’s been a long, exhilarating day out in the Cali-
darkens, plunging us into cool shade. Another
months.
fornian desert. The sun finally disappears behind
press, and the roof takes just seconds to fold itself
“It never rains in Southern California” went the
the hills, but the journey – well, we could keep
neatly away in the luggage compartment.
song by Albert Hammond back in the early 70s.
on cruising for ever. A coffee cup symbol pops up
We’re starring in our very own road movie –
But even if it did, we wouldn’t be in the least
on the Roadster’s instrument panel: the Attention
alone on the highway with the wind in our hair,
bit worried. That’s because the SL is fitted with
Assist drowsiness detection system thinks it’s
we can immerse ourselves in that special, inimi-
the new Magic Vision Control wash/wipe sys-
time for a break, even though we feel we could
table roadster feeling. The electric wind deflector
tem – a heated wiper blade with built-in nozzles
keep on driving for hours in the SL. Because it’s
is a boon for the front-seat passenger, protecting
squirts water just in front of the leading edge
that kind of car.
R 107 With a production run of 237,287, the R 107 is a familiar classic.
R 12 9 The first cabriolet to feature an automically extending rollover bar.
2001–2012
neck and hairdo from the airflow. Better still,
num bulkhead behind the footwells.
1989–2001
speakers that are mounted in the hollow alumi-
1971–1989
ST YLING: ANGEL A KELLEY; PRODUCTION: SIMON SCHWARZ/NO - NAME PRODUCTIONS; HAIR: RIAD A Z AR/INTROARTISTS.COM; MAKE- UP: ANNIE ING/CELESTINEAGENCY.COM; LOCATION: SAN BERNARDINO COUNT Y/ EL MIR AGE; SPECIAL THANKS TO THE INL AND EMPIRE FILM COMMISSION; ARCHIVE PHOTOS: DAIMLER AG
IMPRESSIVE
R 230 The customary soft-top is replaced by a folding Vario roof made of steel.
43 29
A U T O M O T I V E
Bah MA
MANA
Turkey
rai
n
ISTANBUL
Greetings from
KARA
BAHRAIN
AN
Czec
PRAGUE
ALE
PP
h Re publ ic
King Cau Fahd s 1200 eway m
G
ngs i t e re
G
FROM
Acropo lis
AUTO STORIES
The desert calls Ebrahim Abul drove his Mercedes sedan from Bahrain to the Nürburgring – and back again. transcription jenny buchholz
30
O
i l l u s t r at i o n s a n n a l i n d e r
, Athens
AT
2009
Start: Bahrain. Finish: Nürburgring, via the whole of Europe
VADUZ
in e t
ns
e ht
iec
L
Greetings from
Greece. Where are you hiding out?” I asked. “In the north,” he said. “ We’re going to a wedding in the village of Florina. Why don’t you come along?” I didn’t need to be asked twice. What a party! I learned Greek step dancing, and the
was the year I bought my Mercedes
other guests asked me whether I went on such
C-Class in Bahrain. When I went to pick it
trips because I had too much money. “It’s not a
up, the dealer pointed out that the car came
question of money, it’s a question of courage!” I
with an international warranty. Well, if that
exclaimed. “And if no one else will summon up
isn’t a sign, I thought to myself – for two years
the courage, then I will.”
I’d been dreaming of driving a car all the way
Before taking the ferry to Ancona the next day, I
across Europe to Germany’s Nürburgring. Do-
had my car washed – you can’t roll off the ferry in
SYRIA
ing a lap there is like being able to
Italy with dead flies on your radiator! It was still
stick a gold star on your resume. I’m
early when I arrived, so I set off on a five-hour
employed at the Ministry of Finance,
detour to Rome. I tapped the Colosseum into the
and had managed to save up enough
navigation system, and the crazy thing took me
money and vacation for just such a
via some back streets right up to the monument!
trip. I told my friends of my daring
Irritated carabinieri rushed over to investigate,
plan and invited them to join me. “How
but even they could see that the sat nav was the
about us all driving up to the Ring this
guilty party.
summer?” I said to them. And they replied, “No way, you must be crazy! Your
Finish line: the Nürburgring
plan’s crazy. And we’re not crazy, so
Maranello, Davos, a two-day side trip to Prague,
we’re not coming!” Fine, I thought, I’ll go
then on to the Nürburgring. The last part of the
by myself.
drive was awesome – I could drive fast and the
Detour: to the Colosseum
G
re
ec
THENS
e
IGOUMENITSA
rain was coming down. I loved it! The best part about my hotel was waking up the next day not
I set off from Manama on July 11, 2010 at
to the twitter of birds, but to the deafening roar of
seven in the morning. I’d checked the route
V-8 engines! I bought a circuit ticket, turned up
on Google Earth, loaded navigation and speed
the music and passed through the barrier. BMWs
trap apps onto my cell phone, got cash in seven
and Porsches raced by, while I took the circuit at
currencies, packed the camera and tripod, and
a leisurely 200 km/h (125 mph) – I wanted to re-
also had icebox full of water and Pepsi with me
ally appreciate where I was. When it was over, I
to keep me awake on the long stretches. The car
stuck the Nürburgring sticker on the trunk, took
had been spray-coated at the front with a spe-
one last tripod shot of the car, the Ring and me,
cial sand mixture. That’s an absolute must when
then got back behind the wheel again.
driving through the desert if you don’t want to have to replace the headlights and repaint the car afterwards. Even at a baking 50° Celsius (120°F) outside, my car’s air-con kept me nice and cool. My route took me through Jordan and Syria to Turkey, where I spent two nights in Istanbul.
ANCONA
On day 5 of my trip, I started out toward Igoumenitsa on the west coast of Greece. On the way, I called an old college friend: “Anéstis, I’m in
THE CAR WAS spray-coated with a mixture of sand and water, the only way to protect the headlights and paintwork. 31
A U T O M O T I V E
thing about waking up right next to the Nürburgring: being greeted by the roar of V-8 engines instead of twittering birds.
T R AV E L
CO NA MO
THE BEST
ITA
LY
ROME
Statistics No. of traffic tickets: 0 Longest single drive in hours: 16
VERGIATE
E
, ROM LOSSEUM
tings CO GreFeROM
Highest toll charge in euros (paid in Italy): 83
MONTE CARLO
Total number of km driven: 15,523 Greatest distance on a full tank in km: 911 Steak and chips dinners: 3
gs Greetifrnom
Return journey: fuel shortages
ARLO MONTE C
Number of vehicle museums visited: 4 Biggest spontaneous detour in km: 707 (Davos – Prague – Nürburg)
I’d reached my destination. What next? I wanted to see more cars, so I drove to Stuttgart to visit the Mercedes-Benz Museum, where I
Sand mixtures: 2
posed with my well-traveled car for a souvenir
www.eabul.blogspot.com
photo. Later I went to Paris to meet up with a friend for dinner, and then headed south to take a look at the Prince of Monaco’s vehicle
main road did I find a gas station attendant
collection. I parked my C-Class between the Lamborghinis and Bentleys at the entrance to the Monte Carlo Casino and then watched from a cafe opposite as people took snapshots – of exotic cars and the unusual license plate
who could give me 20 liters (4.3 gallons). “I’m
Swi
tze
traveling though the country and need to get
DAVOS
rla
nd
to Turkey,” I told him, to which he replied, “I can see you’re not from round here. Drive
in between them.
around for a while and come back once the
It was time to drive back through Italy to
cars here have gone. Then I’ll give you another 20 liters.”
Greece again. On the ferry, an Audi driver warned me that there was no fuel there due to a strike. I assured him that I could drive
The rest of the drive went
PARIS
quickly, via Istanbul and Syria back to Jordan. In Saudi Arabia
mine was still half full. Because I wasn’t concerned, I first drove to Athens and visited the Acropolis. Then I got the navigation system to list all the gas stations heading north-
CE
FRAN
wards. But none of them had any fuel. The shoulder of the highway was littered with vehicles that had run out of gas. I still had enough left to drive about 250 kilometers (150 miles), but it was twice that far to Aridaía, where my friend Anéstis was expecting me for dinner. Only when I got to a village 60 kilometers (35 miles) from the 32
GERMA
NY
RING
RG NÜRBU
gs from reetin Nür G bur grin g
911 kilometers (566 miles) on a full tank, and
I got some more sand mixture for my car, ready-mixed in cans – this time it was a sunset red color. After 24 days and 15,523 kilometres (9,645 miles), I arrived back in Manama. I filled my travel blog with pictures and videos and sent the link to everyone. It wasn’t long before my friends started calling me: “Ebrahim, why didn’t you tell us what it was going to be like? We’d have come with you right away!”
A U T O M O T I V E
FLAWLESS DESIGN
A perfect synthesis For those who appreciate the finer things in life: the four-door Mercedes Coupe. words christof vieweg
34
photos manuel 端bler
The CLS was the first car to combine the benefits of a sedan with coupe-style dynamism
35
A U T O M O T I V E
36
Setting new engineering standards is par for the course with the CLS 37
A U T O M O T I V E
38
The well-proportioned and athletic exterior of the CLS Coupe elicits an instant response from drivers
39
A U T O M O T I V E
A typical hallmark of the Mercedes coupe models: the large grille-mounted star 40
T
he pounding hearts, the mix of curiosity, excitement and passion – memories of that first unveiling remain so fresh and vivid , it seems like only yesterday that we first set eyes on the car. With effortless assurance, the CLS achieved something rather rare in automotive history: as well as instantly appealing to drivers’ hearts, it also made a deep and lasting impression, going on to become something of a cult car. First released by Mercedes-Benz in 2004, the CLS pioneered a new class of vehicle, one that merged two previously separate genres. As a four-door model, the CLS was as comfortable and spacious as a sedan, yet at the same time it had all the dynamism and elegance one would expect of a coupe. Once again, the brand was a step ahead. As Mercedes put it at the time, the CLS was “a coupe generation ahead of the rest”.
Commanding presence With the second generation of the CLS, launched in spring 2011, Mercedes-Benz once again widened the gap. Although much of the new CLS’s charisma is inspired by the design language of its predecessor, there is now noticeably more emphasis on the sporty and dynamic elements. This is largely down to the restyled front end, which adopts a number of design themes from the legendary Gullwing model to give the car a powerful, commanding presence. The eye is drawn to the discreet but unmistakable muscularity of the fenders, and to wheel arches that wrap snugly around the wheels, again emphasizing the sense of a well-toned physique. The tightly drawn lines of the bodywork reinforce this athletic 41
S TAT S
CLS
A U T O M O T I V E
Model series CLS-Class Power range 386 kW–150 kW Fuel consumption urban: 13.9 l–6.4 l/100 km (16.9–36.7 mpg) inter-urban: 7.6 l–4.4 l/100 km (30.9–53.4 mpg) combined: 9.9 l–5.1 l/100 km (23.7–46.1 mpg) CO2 emissions combined: 231–134 g/km (371–215 g/mi)
The values stated 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. www.mercedes-benz.com
sculpting: they deftly break up the surfaces and
The trim strip running across the entire width of
lamps; all the lighting functions in these head-
create an intriguing counterpoint between light
the instrument panel is available in a choice of
lamps are LED-based. This option also comes
and shade, adding to the Coupe’s arresting body
poplar, ash or burl walnut.
with Adaptive High Beam Assist, while the LEDs
language.
additionally provide the infrared light for the
But the appeal isn’t limited to the outside of the
Luxurious materials
night vision system.
car. Thanks to the seductive charm of the in-
For added individuality, the CLS Coupe can also
With an average life expectancy around five
terior, the magic carries on working long after
be supplied with carbon or piano lacquer trim
times that of bi-xenon headlamps, and with low-
you’ve settled into your seat. Above all, it is the
as an alternative to wood. The lacquer’s exqui-
er power consumption, LED lighting has a bright
careful attention to detail that lends the cabin its
site sheen reflects the elaborate and painstaking
future ahead in automotive design.
distinctive and original character.
workmanship that has gone into producing it. Up
Elsewhere, the electronic assistance systems
The metallic surfaces of the switches, buttons
to seven coats are applied, each of which is indi-
continue the theme of innovation combined with
and controls, for example, feature a fine, raised
vidually ground and polished to create a shining
practicality. They support the driver not only in
pattern that is appealing to both the eye and the
example of meticulous craftsmanship.
critical situations – helping to prevent accidents
hand. A particularly striking aspect is the con-
But attractive styling and luxurious materials
– but also in ordinary, everyday driving, e.g. by
trast between satin and high-gloss finishes, of
aside, the four-door coupe – like every genuine
helping the driver maneuver automatically into
which the center console is an eloquent exam-
Mercedes-Benz – is also a benchmark in engi-
a parking space at the end of a journey. After all,
ple with its matte galvanized air vents flanking
neering. For example, the CLS is the first car in
when it comes to the CLS, driving enjoyment is
an analogue clock set in a high-gloss surround.
the world to offer LED High Performance head-
sometimes all about simplicity.
42
STYLING: CLEMENTINE GUILMOTO; P. 34/35 SET: LLADRO; P. 36/37 SET: MEISSEN; P. 38/39 SET: HERING; P. 40/41 SET: NYMPHENBURG; P. 42 SET: JONATHAN ADLER
Energy rating F to A
44
A U T O M O T I V E SUMMIT TALK
High achiever Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner has climbed all 14 peaks over 8,000 meters (26,247 ft) without supplemental oxygen. She was motivated by ambition – but also by what makes her happy. interview martin trockner
S
i l l u s t r at i o n s b e r t o m a r t i n e z
he has succeeded where others have failed. Men
I’ve ticked off mountaineering. It’s my passion. And my
included. In fact, men most of all. Gerlinde Kalten-
husband and I have many other projects ahead of us. Now
brunner, 41, has climbed all 14 of the planet’s
that the 8,000ers are out of the way, we’ve got plenty of
mountains over 8,000 meters (26,247 ft). With-
remote and challenging 7,000-meter peaks waiting for us.
out supplemental oxygen. Some summits she has visited several times. Others required more than one attempt. But in the end for-
The sort of mountaineering you do is potentially fatal. You
tune favored the Austrian and she finally conquered her personal
have lost friends and colleagues in the mountains.
bête noire, K2. For Kaltenbrunner, who lives in Germany’s Black
I know there’s a certain inherent risk in everything I do
Forest, the achievement brought contentment and fulfillment.
on the mountain. So I’m careful and try to keep risk to a
Now she is on the lookout for new heights to scale.
minimum. But that’s no different from everyday life. Accidents can happen whatever you’re doing, whether you’re
“TURNING BACK IS HARD. But the mountain will still be there tomorrow.”
in the car or on a mountain bike. Don’t forget, mountaineering is my choice. I set myself the goal of climbing a particular mountain. My ambition is to realize my dreams and live them to the full. So the thought of giving up has never crossed your mind?
Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, what were your first thoughts
Never. If you are passionate about something, that
when you finally set foot on the summit of K2 after so many
thought never crosses your mind. It remains your passion
failed attempts?
for life. Of course it’s hard when you’re forced to turn
To be honest, my mind was a blank. As I climbed the
back just short of your goal – especially after several at-
last few steps to the highest point, I just tried to take the
tempts. But the mountain will always be there tomorrow.
moment in. I wasn’t able to put my feelings into words. After so many setbacks and losses in the past, I felt only a
Conditions can be pretty inhumane on an 8,000-meter
profound sense of joy at being on the summit.
mountain. Temperatures of 40 degrees below freezing are not uncommon, and then there are the storms and avalanch-
Do you not feel an emptiness now that you’ve achieved your lifelong ambition? No, I can’t say I recognize that feeling at all. It’s not as if
es. Why do people choose to put themselves in such danger? Wait a second, you’re focusing only on the unpleasant side of high-altitude mountaineering. 45
A U T O M O T I V E
OK, tell us about the nicer aspects. Of course you have to deal with low temperatures, snow and lack of oxygen. But there are also the moments when the sky clears and you’re left looking out over a breathtaking panorama. At moments like these, I feel I’m tapping into pure energy. And I know exactly why I put myself through everything. So mountaineering is also partly about achieving happiness? I’d call it fulfillment. To experience nature in its primordial state is simply magical. Have you ever been afraid of a mountain? No, I’m never afraid. But I have great respect. I’ve always had enormous innate trust. I’m always telling myself everything will be OK, no matter what. And naturally, I try to make the best of whatever circumstances I find myself in. Does danger excite you? No, danger isn’t at all exciting. It’s just that sometimes you can’t avoid getting into dangerous situations. How does someone like you relax? At the moment I find the best relaxation is to go for a 90-minute run in the woods. So you’re not one for beach holidays? No, not at all. I’ve never just had a beach holiday. If I’m ever on a beach, then it’s usually in combination with rock climbing. I enjoy that. That’s my idea of a holiday.
CAREER
Highs & lows
8,027 m (26,335 f t) ROCKY SUMMIT B R OA D P E A K 8,047 m (26,402 ft)
1994
Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner achieves her greatest dream aged 23: she climbs the 8,027 m Rocky Summit (sub summit) of Broad Peak.
46
“ TO EXPERIENCE nature in its primordial state is simply magical.”
8,201 m (26,906 f t) CHO OYU
1998
Kaltenbrunner’s first 8,000-meter main summit, having successfully climbed a number of 6,000-meter (19,685-ft) peaks in China and Nepal in previous years. But mountaineering is still a hobby at this point.
5,947 m (19,511 f t) A L P A M AY O
1999
For all her ambition, Kaltenbrunner is not obsessed solely with 8,000-meter peaks. She also enjoys “smaller” mountains, such as Alpamayo in Peru.
Mountaineers die every year while climbing. What are the
Do you prefer getting around on foot or do you take the car? I enjoy walking whenever possible and if it’s not too far.
most common mistakes people make in the mountains? People often set goals that are too ambitious, or over-
But I also need a vehicle to get around Germany, Austria
estimate their physical resources.
and Switzerland for my lectures.
What sort of things should one never do on a mountain?
Can you relax while driving?
Well, that’s a lengthy list. It can be fatal to put yourself
Yes, that’s never a problem. I always have music with me.
under too much pressure, to be overambitious or to see your goal as reaching the summit at any price.
How would you describe your style of driving? I’m never stressed out. And I always factor in plenty of time.
Would mountaineering without the extreme aspect – in the Dolomites, say – be as much fun? I’d say that would be really great – I absolutely love the Dolomites! Are you currently looking for new goals? I’m constantly on the lookout for new mountains I really want to climb. Does that mean you choose to climb a mountain for its
“ FIRST I LOOK AT A mountain and try to feel its energy, sense its true nature. Then it starts to become a mind thing; I’m intrigued by its beauty.”
ILLUSTR ATIONS: BERTO MARTINEZ CO UNIT.NL
beauty? For sure. Beauty is what stimulates the desire. First I look
What irritates you when you’re driving?
at a mountain and try to feel its energy, sense its true na-
Traffic jams on the highway.
ture. Then it starts to become a mind thing, I’m intrigued by its beauty. That’s what makes the difference, what makes me want to climb it.
Do you ever lose your temper? No, I’m not an impatient person. As an extreme climber you need patience – if only to sit out the long waits at
What makes a mountain beautiful? Every mountain has a really special side. You just have to
base camp. And I think I approach everyday life with that
find the one that appeals to you.
same calmness.
8,125 m (26,658 f t) N A N G A PA R B AT
2003
The turning point in her life. After her fifth 8,000meter peak, the qualified nurse makes extreme mountaineering her career.
8,848 m (29,029 f t) MOUNT EVEREST
2005
Her first attempt at climbing the highest mountain on Earth ends in failure. The expedition is called off to rescue a sick team member.
8,611 m (28,251 ft) K2 8,611 m (28,251 f t) K2
2007
Kaltenbrunner’s first attempt to climb K2 – and not the last. She would return in 2009 and 2010 – on both occasions without success.
2011
On top at last. After 17 years and several failed attempts, the Austrian finally climbs the last of the 14 summits over 8,000 meters – without supplemental oxygen. 47
FURNITURE
Designer seats www . racing - emotion . com
For motorsports fans: the Art Ball Collection
S I T T I N G I N T H E C O C K P I T of a racing car is many people’s dream. Now anyone denied this pleasure can instead enjoy these seat pods from the Art Ball Collection designed by Anthony Jannarelly and Benoit Fraylon. The two Le Mans-based French automotive designers have decorated the iconic seat pods with motifs from motor racing – for example the helmet design of Brazilian Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna (center). Another model is dedicated to the Mercedes 300 SL (left) that set up a new average speed record at Le Mans in 1952.
R A C I N G
P A S S I O N
T E C H N O L O G Y
S P E E D
PERFORMANCE BOOK
Drive reports www . palawan . co . uk
T H E H I S T O R Y of motorsports has had a makeover. In Anthony Pritchard’s book Racers: Memoirs of the Gentlemen Drivers, British amateur drivers from the 50s, 60s and 70s tell their stories. It all makes for an affectionately nostalgic – and at times slightly romanticized – account of the sport.
T R AV E L B AG
Mille Miglia www . bf - sportwagen . de
I N 1 9 5 5 T H E M E R C E D E S - B E N Z 300 SLR took part in the Mille Miglia race for the first time. The young Stirling Moss left the grid bearing the number 722 and won the race with consummate ease. Juan Manuel Fangio came second – also in a 300 SLR. In honor of this double victory, English leather specialist Caracalla – Bath has designed this “Mercedes Benz 300 SLR” travel bag that bears the number 722 on its side. 48
The classic racing cars make no concessions to each other
E- AUTOMOBILES
SLS AMG E-Cell www . mercedes - gp . com
T E C H N O L O G Y T R A N S F E R from the race track to the road still sometimes happens, and the SLS AMG E-Cell, which goes into series production in 2013, is a case in point. As in the Formula 1 car, the road version has a continuously variable transmission system and components made of carbon fiber. The electric drivetrain was developed by the F1 team Mercedes AMG Petronas in Brixworth, UK. The liquidcooled 400-volt battery of the SLS AMG E-Cell is charged by regenerative braking, as in the Formula 1 version.
The Mercedes SLS AMG E-Cell goes from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4 s
HISTORY
Le Mans Classic 2012 www . lemansclassic . com
FOTOS: DAIMLER AG (2), W W W.BF-SPORT WAGEN.DE, IMAGO SPORTFOTODIENST, GET T Y IMAGES
T H E L E M A N S C L A S S I C takes place every two years. It comes around again in 2012, when a range of historic racing cars will again make their appearance at the famous track between July 6 and 8. This year, Mercedes has a very special reason to be taking part as it will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the SL: it was back in 1952 that a 300 SL won the famous Le Mans 24-hour race for the very first time.
Even at an early age, Jacky Ickx was regarded as an exceptional talent
DVD
Jacky Ickx on screen www . grandprix - dakotashop . com
I N H I S T I M E he was regarded as the greatest and most multitalented racing driver the world had ever seen: Jacky Ickx. But the man who won the Le Mans 24-hour race no fewer than six times never allowed anyone to glimpse his private life. Until, that is, documentary maker Philip Selkirk was given exclusive access to Ickx and combined this with rare footage to produce the fascinating film Frankly... Jacky Ickx. In addition to interviews with Ickx himself, the film also feature friends and colleagues such as Sir Jackie Stewart, Ron Dennis, Sir Stirling Moss, Jean Todt and Jochen Mass. 49
P E R F O R M A N C E
50
I
n the face of recurring financial crises, the spooked and prudent can be seen scurrying for the nearest safe haven. Some plow their money into gold, others take refuge
in bricks and mortar. Us? We’d recommend a more pulse-quickening escape from the econom-
Some consider it a risk, but a sports car can prove a sound investment. Especially when it’s a coupe from a very special series.
ic doldrums, whose dividend payouts – in the form of driving pleasure – are never less than generous. You would rarely accuse the “standard” AMG models of being underpowered, but the elite,
w o r d s a n d p h o t o s v o l k e r r ac h o w
special-edition Black Series models have sharpened up their act just a little extra. The latest AMG spin-off is a case in point. Our C 63 AMG Coupe Black Series (which comes with shimmering gold paintwork, as if to further its case as a reliable home for your money) generates 380 kW and 620 Newton meters of torque, while the AMG engineers have given the chassis, steering and brakes even more bite. The result is an uncompromising racing machine that can be driven every day. If that sounds like a contradiction in terms, think again. The high-revving, naturally-aspirated V-8 engine develops 380 kW (at 6,800 rpm) from a 6.3-liter displacement
AMG BLACK SERIES
Read between the lines: the C 63 AMG Coupe Black Series makes its mark on road and driver alike
Dark matter
51
P E R F O R M A N C E (2.24-mile) lap. Let’s not forget, we’re driving a
S TAT S
car whose sporty bucket seats carry the driver
C-Class Coupe
and passenger in comfort and that has space in the back for more than just their golf kit. But all this is forgotten when the beast is stirred. The lefthander up to the Rahal Straight is flat out, the C-Class Coupe’s roll stabilization system keeping everything in shape. Lurking on the other side of the crest is the Corkscrew; the drop into the legendary left-right combination is blind. The Alcantara steering wheel darts dramatically left, then right as we clock 101.6 km/h (63.1 mph), pulling 1.03 g around the outside of the corners. That’s the word from the onboard Time to head out onto the Laguna Seca race
computer, which also measures a 0 to 100 km/h
circuit near San Francisco to inspect our invest-
(62 mph) time of under four seconds, courtesy of
ment. The Track Package (including sports tires
the slick racing tires. 4.2 seconds are required
and rear differential cooling) and Aerodynamics
with standard tires fitted.
Package (with a front splitter, “flics” and an ad-
The bold investor casting his eye beyond the
justable rear wing) turn the car into a fine circuit
markets will glow with pride as he surveys his
weapon, as and when required. Gear changes are
C 63 AMG Coupe Black Series – and conclude
negotiated in a lightning-fast 100 milliseconds;
that the roads are indeed paved with gold.
there’s no time to lose when there’s driving to be done! Even in the pit lane, the car’s naturally-aspirated
C 63 AMG Coupe Black Series Engine / Output 6.3-liter V-8 high-revving naturally-aspirated engine, 380 kW at 6,800 rpm; max torque 620 Nm at 5,200 rpm Transmission AMG Speedshift MCT 7-speed sports transmission Acceleration 0–100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.2 s Top speed 300 km/h (186 mph) (electronically limited) Fuel consumption urban: 18.2 l Super plus/100 km (12.9 mpg) inter-urban: 8.8 l Super plus/100 km (26.7 mpg) combined: 12.2 l Super plus/100 km (19.3 mpg) CO2 emissions combined: 286 g/km (460 g/mi)
V-8 engine airs its addictive growl. The SLS ubersports car joining us for several dozen laps is
Energy rating G
hard pushed to turn its exotic genes into a lead
Trunk capacity 450 liters
of less than a second at the end of a 3.6 km
The steering wheel has an Alcantara/leather covering (right). The optional Aerodynamics Package consists largely of carbon components (below)
www.mercedes-amg.com
PHOTOS: DAIMLER AG (3)
The comfortable bucket seat keeps the driver firmly supported, even when the centrifugal forces tug at him through tight corners
The values stated 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.
52
A U T O M O T I V E
THE NEW DTM AMG MERCEDES C-COUPE
Dressed for success Change is afoot in the DTM: new rules, standard parts for all the cars and a new manufacturer on the block. And could this be the season when two trumps four for Mercedes-Benz? words tobias nebl
85 wins in 159 races make the C-Class the most successful car in DTM history. The fourdoor Sedan which contested the touring car series last year will be replaced by its two-door Coupe sibling in 2012. Gary Paffett was the first driver to try the full bucket seat in the AMG Mercedes C-Coupe out for size. After an extended test run at Monteblanco in Spain, he explained what had changed: “The car is lower and wider than in recent years. It’s noticeably different to drive than previous DTM cars. And you can spend more time on the limit under braking into a corner.” The new steering wheel gearshift paddles are a factor here, but not the only one. It’s clear how much Paffett is enjoying the new car and the technology that makes it work. With wider tires and numerous other revisions to the cars, the forthcoming season – which pits Mercedes against not only Audi but also the returning BMW squad –
The changes for the 2012 season:
54
1 S TA N D A R D P A R T S Audi, BMW and Mercedes will do battle with identical weaponry in 2012 – at least as far as the aerodynamic components, gearbox and brakes of their cars are concerned. The new DTM rules stipulate the use of standard parts in those areas. Clearest to the eye will be the front splitter and rear wing.
2 TIRES Tires are the black gold of motor racing. As in 2011, Hankook will supply the teams with their race rubber again this time around. However, the tires for 2012 are slightly wider and have an increased section width, which should result in greater mechanical grip and reduced wear.
3 GE ARBOX Peer through the side window of the 500 hp machine and you’ll spot another new feature: the gear lever is conspicuous by its absence. The drivers will instead flick through the gears of the standard gearbox specified by the new regulations using shift paddles mounted directly on the steering wheel.
4 SAFETY Like their Formula 1 cousins, the DTM cars will – for the first time – be built around a carbonfiber monocoque. A steel roll cage is also part of compulsory specification. The safety concept for the cars rounds off with a total of six “crash absorbers” for the front, rear and flanks of the cars.
PHOTOS: DAIMELR AG
promises more thrills and spills than ever.
D T M S E A S O N 2 012
Dates April 29 Hockenheimring (D) May 06 Lausitzring (D) May 20 Brands Hatch (GB) June 03 Red Bull Ring Spielberg (A) July 01 Norisring (D) July 15 Show Event Olympic Stadium Munich (D) August 19 N端rburgring (D) August 26 Circuit Park Zandvoort (NL) September 16 Motorsport Arena Oschersleben (D) September 30 Valencia (ES) October 21 Hockenheimring (D) www.dtm.com
55
P E R F O R M A N C E KERS for all! The brake energy recovery, storage and retrieval system pioneered in Formula 1 is poised to take a quantum leap, with road drivers standing to benefit from the Mercedes technology in the near future.
F
Progress at our fingertips words thomas schulz
i l l u s t r at i o n s t o b i a s wa n d r e s
ormula 1 legend and Mercedes AMG Petronas driver Michael Schumacher
has
over
two
dozen switches and buttons at
his fingertips inside the cockpit, all of which he has to be able to master blindfolded. One of this impressive array allows him, as it were, to activate the future of electric drive systems.
THE KERS SYSTEM The energy generated under braking is stored in a battery. It can then be summoned up by the driver to feed an electric motor connected to the car’s combustion engine. The energy released may not exceed 400 kilojoules per lap.
The button Schumacher presses to engage his KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) enables this highly complex technology to convert energy generated under braking – and normally flushed away in the form of heat – into electricity, and to store it in a battery. Here, it can be released with a push of that button to power an electric motor linked up to the car’s combustion engine. The ongoing development of this visionary brake energy utilization concept and the transfer of the expertise into everyday road cars are following a clear path. “Optimizing energy density and, at the same time, reducing the weight of KERS are our key areas of focus and will dictate its future development,” summarizes Thomas Fuhr, Managing Director at Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains. At their base in Brixworth, England, the masterminds of Formula 1 engine production and KERS development hand-build some 56
THE EXTRA THRUST
from KERS is worth valuable tenths of a second during a race.
100 race engines each year – all complete
53 lb), no more than 6 kg (13 lb) of which is ac-
too much. “Some drivers commit to a starvation
with KERS – for Mercedes AMG Petronas and
counted for by an electric motor barely the size
diet in the winter before a new season,” says
customer teams McLaren and Force India.
of a coffee cup. This may not seem much in a
Fuhr. “Every 10 kilos (22 lb) costs you roughly
The Mercedes KERS unit, consisting of a lithium
car which F1 rules dictate has to weigh at least
four tenths of a second out on the track.” With
battery, electric motor, pump and cooling sys-
640 kg (1,411 lb), driver includ-
tem, is mounted longitudinally to the engine and
ed. However, in a world
positioned with great precision so as not to com-
ruled by precision
promise the car’s center of gravity. The unit cur-
and hundredths of
rently tips the scales at 24 kilograms (just under
seconds it is still
that in mind, you can see why the drivers go easy on the calo-
ENERGY CONVERSION The Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) unit in Formula 1 cars weighs around 24 kg (just under 53 lb) and harnesses the valuable energy generated under braking that is otherwise released as waste heat. This cutting-edge technology gives the driver access to an extra 60 kW (82 hp) of power.
ries.
After
all,
CONTROL CENTER KERS is activated from the steering wheel. The driver presses the Boost button to release extra output, which makes a key difference at the start of a race, under acceleration and when overtaking.
57 21
P E R F O R M A N C E
IN A RACE there are no specific KERS orders. The driver alone decides when to use the technology.
the first corner, though, he can power through the exit that much faster. On longer straights, such as at Monza, he may like to call up a sus-
Formula 1
the usage guidelines for KERS are binding on
These FIA regulations could be described as
all teams – and strict with it. The permitted en-
pre-planned innovation. “As things stand, the
ergy release from the KERS battery is limited to
KERS for 2014 will be larger and heavier,” says
400 kilojoules per lap at present, and output to
Fuhr. “We still rely on lithium as the major
60 kW (82 hp). The drivers can boost their ba-
element in the battery; that’s something we’ll
March 16 – 18 Australia, Melbourne March 23 – 25 Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur April 13 – 15 China, Shanghai April 20 – 22 Bahrain, Sakhir May 11 – 13 Spain, Catalunya May 24 – 27 Monaco, Monte Carlo June 08 – 10 Canada, Montreal June 22 – 24 Spain, Valencia July 06 – 08 England, Silverstone July 20 – 22 Germany, Hockenheim July 27 – 29 Hungary, Budapest August 31 – September 02 Belgium, Spa-Francorchamps September 07 – 09 Italy, Monza September 21 – 23 Singapore October 05 – 07 Japan, Suzuka October 12 – 14 Korea, Yeongam October 26 – 28 India, New Delhi November 02 – 04 Abu Dhabi, Yas Marina November 16 – 18 USA, Austin (Texas) November 23 – 25 Brazil, São Paulo
sic 700 hp with this extra power at the touch of
need to address in the next two years, and we
w w w . f o r m u l a 1. co m
a button, but the Fédération Internationale de
will certainly find a solution. Progress will be
l’Automobile (FIA) stipulates that they may only
made with the energy density of the KERS bat-
milk the benefits for a maximum 6.7 seconds
tery, as happened with the storage capacity of
per lap – either in one push or spread out into
cell phones.”
several applications. This rule is meticulously
The KERS technology from Mercedes’ high-
enforced with the help of a sensor fitted in every
tech laboratory is set to take a quantum leap
KERS unit.
along the road to mass production, the Formula
The use of KERS at the start of a race is per-
1 powerplant acting as a technological driver
mitted from 100 km/h (62 mph), at which point
for future passenger car engines and the Mer-
pressing the Boost button will give the driver
cedes F1 wheelmen as pioneers in progress.
an extra hit of acceleration. If he holds off until
And all at the touch of a button.
tained dose of KERS, while on a twisty street circuit like Monaco the system can be more effectively exploited in half-second bursts. The decision rests with the driver. Of course, the teams discuss strategy ahead of each race, looking at local factors such as the track layout and weather, “but no specific KERS orders are sent into the cockpit”, underlines Fuhr. Plenty of information and input flows out of the cockpit, however – from the driver into subsequent KERS development stages. No computer, regardless of power, is capable of supplying such direct and therefore indispensable feedback.
Scheduled innovation An even more efficient KERS unit for Formula 1 will be introduced in just two years’ time, together with Mercedes’ new V-6 engine. Setting the tone here are the FIA’s new technical directives for 2014, which state that the permitted energy release from the battery will mushroom from 400 kilojoules to four megajoules. The output of the electric motor will increase to 120 kW (163 hp) and the period for which the power boost can be utilized per lap is expected to rise significantly from the current 6.7 seconds.
58
D AT E S
BOOK
Who makes what?
A N Y O N E W I S H I N G to get a full picture of the automotive industry needs time and patience – or a copy of Cars Now! Published by Taschen, this lavishly illustrated book contains details of virtually every automobile in the world. Over 512 pages, no fewer than 117 manufacturers are described, together with technical details of their latest models, information on dealerships, corporate strategies and development of their logos. Needless to say, Mercedes-Benz is there – on 16 fascinating and information-packed pages.
www . taschen . com
The cover of Cars Now!
D E S I G N
A R T
C U L T U R E
S T Y L E
A R C H I T E C T U R E
M O D E R N E-BOOK
Colorful landmark: the i-Punkt garden shed
Modern classics www . myskoob . com
The illustrations in these e-books help the reader understand the text
GARDEN SHED
Color cube www . i - punkt - gartenhaus . de
T H I S G A R D E N S H E D F R O M I - P U N K T is a colorful way to create more space. It looks like a miniature work of art, and can be set up anywhere in your garden or right next to your house. The multi-colored cube is large enough to accommodate a motorcycle or to function as a garden shed, workshop or machine room. The combination of colors is your choice – let your artistic imagination run free. 60
S H A K E S P E A R E ’ S Romeo and Juliet has been around for a very long time – since 1579, to be precise. In a bid to convince teenagers that stories like this still have more to offer than any video game, My-Skoob has published a range of literary classics in the form of rather special e-books. Works like Moby Dick, Robinson Crusoe and Dracula have been lavishly supplied with modern illustrations designed to appeal to the younger reader.
TECHNOLOGY
Ear candy www . jawbone . com
D E S I G N E R Yves Behar has a knack of using state-of-theart technology to create objects that are so easy on the eye, they look good wherever they are – whether on a mantel or a work desk. Take the “Jambox” loudspeaker, which comes in red, blue, gray or neutral black. But this piece of equipment not only looks good, it sounds amazing, too. Though the wireless speaker fits in the palm of your hand, it pumps out sound levels that would drown out any motorcycle – ideal for music, video soundtracks or live football broadcasts. And it comes with a built-in microphone for teleconferencing or Skyping.
Each of the silk scarves is available in a limited edition
ACCESSORIES
Silk with a hidden agenda www . filedunder . net
Designer Yves Behar and his Jambox loudspeaker
Aerial pavilion: the Irish Sky Garden in Cork
T H E D I F F E R E N C E between fashion and art is in the eye of the beholder – a fact that people started to grasp at the latest when Andy Warhol started printing images of tomato cans on dresses. Nowadays, designers like Alexander McQueen even have retrospectives devoted to their creations at the Museum of Modern Art. Fashion label Filed Under prefers not to say whether its silk scarves are art or fashion: the motifs are mainly by artists, but are always designed with a hidden agenda – even if this is not immediately obvious. Ultimately, though, the real value of the accessory is based on the identification of the wearer with the motif. That is what fashion is about – which was, after all, Andy Warhol’s message.
PAV I L I O N
Eye in the sky www . rhs . org . uk
I N T H E I R I S H city of Cork, a pavilion has taken to the skies: the “Irish Sky Garden”, complete with plants and seats, is suspended 30 meters (100 ft.) above the ground by a crane, offering visitors a superb view of the city, its surroundings and the River Lee. Irish garden designer Diarmuid Gavin says he drew his inspiration for this aerial garden from the film Avatar. The pavilion won a gold medal at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show in 2011. 61
M O D E R N
FA S T F O RWA R D T O Setting trends instead of following them; combining technology and design to satisfy needs that haven’t been discovered yet. Those are the hallmarks of truly great acts of creation — and the criteria Mercedes-Benz has satisfied in a single, truly extraordinary creation: the new A-Class.
62
WO R D S DAV ID PFE IFE R
HER: DRESS: A. F. VANDEVORST; LEATHER LEGGINGS: RIK A; BELTS: A. F. VANDEVORST, PATRICK MOHR; WEDGES: JEFFREY CAMPBELL HIM: PANTS: ANNHAGEN VINTAGE; BOOTS: PALLADIUM; BELTS: THEO BY WORMLAND, DIESEL, G - STAR; LEATHER ARMBANDS: DIESEL
THE PHOTOS MARKUS BOLSINGER
FUTURE
63
M O D E R N
WIND AND WAVES
were the inspiration behind the extraordinary design language that defines the new A-Class.
Twice as tough: the brand-new A-Class sets new standards in design and technology
64
S TAT S
A-Class A 250 Sport BlueEfficiency Engine / Output 2.0-liter four-cylinder, 155 kW at 5,500 rpm; max torque 350 Nm at 1,250–4,000 rpm Transmission 7G-DCT 7-speed dual-clutch This material serves as preliminary information. The availability for order and technical data of the new A-Class depends on the market launch dates per country, but not before summer 2012.
LEATHER JACKET: BROYDEN; LEATHER LEGGINGS: RIK A; BELT: A. F. VANDEVORST; BOOTS: JEFFREY CAMPBELL
www.mercedes-benz.com
65
M O D E R N
W
hat’s left of the present once it becomes the past? Not something that’s easy to predict. Very rarely do we, in the present, get to decipher a product from the future: who’d have guessed those chunky black boxes favored by advertis’90s would eventually lead to today’s booming cell phone market? And rarely do we stand in front of a product and instantly recognize not just its form and function, but the full depth of potentiality and significance inherent within it. The first A-Class – then still the A-Class concept – was presented at Berlin’s Fashion Week
along the way many compromises are made
in summer 2011. By the very nature of what
– trade-offs that leach the energy from the
they do, fashion people are profoundly sensi-
original vision and cripple the wings that first
tive to the impact of design. And their reaction
allowed the fantasy to fly. That’s why observers
was clear: that’s what the future looks like.
were so astonished when, in spring 2012, the
It often takes a long time for a concept car
new A-Class finally rolled out of its trailer into
to evolve into a mass-production model, and
the glare of a sunny afternoon in Lanzarote. It was as if a vehicle from a science-fiction film had driven into the present through some dimensional rift. All the extraordinary features that had so impressed the original audience had been preserved – the pouncing stance, the muscular scoops and curves, even, for those who want it, the striking radiator grille with its mouthful of pins: a star-filled sky behind
Human beings at the heart of things – a philosophy the A-Class embodies to perfection
66
the obligatory Mercedes-Benz star nestling in the middle.
LEATHER JACKET: G - STAR; SHIRT: DIESEL FROM WORML AND; SUNGL ASSES: FLY LONDON; BELT: DIESEL; BOOTS: PALL ADIUM
ing execs and music managers back in the early
THE NEW A-CLASS will succeed because of its impact on the urban landscape of the future.
67
M O D E R N
THE DESIGNERS have come up with a thoroughly contemporary car.
Inside the car, the instruments wrap round the
nature. According to Hartmut Sinkwitz, one
driver, as if in a cockpit. A large – apparently
of Mercedes-Benz’ senior designers, wind and
free-floating – screen points the way forward
waves were among the inspirations for the con-
into the future. The designers have created a
cept car, and their influence can still be felt in
thoroughly contemporary car. But in the auto
the production model.
industry – unlike the fashion industry – the
There is something curiously familiar about
important thing is not to abstract a shape from
the lines and edges that define the car’s in-
a trend. Quite the contrary: a car’s shape must
terior and exterior. From certain angles they
be able to outlast the vagaries of time. And that
remind you of dune crests, blown into per-
only happens if it springs from a higher ideal.
fect arches by the desert wind. Sometimes they evoke classics of industrial design – the
68
Curiously familiar
air vents, for instance, are reminiscent of jet
The A-Class is a fusion of concepts, molded
engine nozzles. Certain shapes have been
together by a design language drawn from
optimized until they are incapable of further
DRESS: A. F. VANDEVORST; LEATHER LEGGINGS: RIK A; BELTS: A. F. VANDEVORST, PATRICK MOHR; WEDGES: JEFF CAMPBELL
Deja vu? The contours of the new A-Class are curiously familiar
ST YLING: JACQUELINE ABR AHAMS @ ARTISTGROUPMIER AU.COM HAIR & MAKE-UP: MELANIE NATASCHA MEYER @ ARTISTGROUPMIERAU.COM
refinement – tested a million times over, they
smash hit, notching up sales of over a million
“Very soon you won’t be able to ignore Mercedes
have reached an evolutionary apogee.
vehicles worldwide.
when you’re looking to buy a cool car,” promised
The new A-Class is composed of such shapes
So if the new A-Class is going to break out of the
Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler AG. The
– so it is even more extraordinary to see how
hermetic world of exhibitions and car salons,
new A-Class is the progeny of this ambitious
modern the end product looks as a result. And
it needs to accomplish two things that at first
announcement. But although the first thing you
yet somehow right, as well. Like humming
sight appear irreconcilable. It must satisfy ex-
notice about the new car is its form rather than
along to a song on the radio even though you’re
pectations while confounding preconceptions.
its function, the A-Class is still a Mercedes: it
hearing it for the very first time. The car ap-
must continue to meet the high engineering
peals directly to your emotions, imprinting
standards that reassure car buyers their pur-
itself instantaneously. As a rule, songs like that tend to be chartbusters. And while the new A-Class doesn’t look much like the old one, it does have to live up to one expectation: the old A-Class was a
THE NEW A-CLASS must satisfy expectations while confounding preconceptions.n.
chase was one of the head, not just of the heart. Both as “image” car and as retail product, the new A-Class will succeed not because it appeals to the critics, but because of its impact on the urban landscape of the future. 69
M O D E R N
MATERIALS
Miracle metal A bodyshell made entirely of aluminum means the new Mercedes Roadster is more energetic yet also more energy-efficient. But aluminum played an important role in our increasingly mobile society long before it was used for building cars. Time to take in a little cultural history. words michael moorstedt
70
W
hite as silver, immutable as gold, strong as iron, malleable as copper, light as glass,” is how pioneering spaceman Im-
pey Barbicane describes “this precious metal” in From the Earth to the Moon, an early story of space flight written by Jules Verne. The star of the novel is talking about the ideal material for building a capsule that will be launched into space by a gigantic gun – pure fantasy, of course, but the French novelist certainly had a point when he wrote this pean to aluminum. Verne’s story appeared in 1865, but he was not the only science writer to be excited by the newly discovered, all-capable metal.
71
M O D E R N
The most abundant of all the metals found in the Earth’s crust, aluminum only occurs naturally in compound form. So nobody could do anything with it until the early 19th century, when French scientist Henri Sainte-Claire Deville succeeded in extracting the element – more or less economically – in 1854. Featherlight, extraordinarily tough and durable, corrosion-resistant, easy to clean, and soft
minum – Metal of Modern Times). “Its journey
as it is now. Not until 1886 did the electrolytic
enough to be sculpted into complex shapes – it
comprised a series of sweeping, sometimes even
Hall-Héroult process make it possible to extract
is scarcely surprising that aluminum rapidly
absurd loops and curves.”
aluminum in industrial quantities, to industrial
gained a reputation as a “miracle material”. But
standards. By 1900, annual global production of
it could only be produced in small amounts and
A metal à la mode
aluminum had risen to around 6,000 tons. Today
soon became a jewelers’ favorite, used for mak-
Aluminum was a favorite of artists and crafts-
it is the world’s second most important industrial
ing medals and handcrafted ornaments that
people – the Bauhaus masters used it to design
metal: more than 50 million tons were produced
sold for much higher prices than even gold or
furniture for their modular living spaces, and in
in 2011.
platinum. Its use in automotive manufacturing
the 60s, fashion designer Paco Rabanne created
Just as red-hot steel became the symbol of the In-
lay far in the future.
dresses from very thin aluminum plate for his
dustrial Revolution, so silver-cool aluminum has
“Aluminum did not chart a straight, purposeful
“12 Unwearable Dresses in Contemporary Materi-
become the symbol of our modern era. We are sur-
course through the 20th century,” writes Ger-
als” collection.
rounded and – in cars and aircraft – enclosed by it.
man science journalist Luitgard Marschall in
But there was still a long way to go before the met-
Aluminum has played and continues to play a key
her book Aluminium – Metall der Moderne (Alu-
al could be used and processed as extravagantly
role in the history of our mobile society.
72
tive lightweight building material. An aluminum fender is 40 percent lighter than a steel one. While a carbon-fiber part would be even lighter, it would cost nearly 80 percent more to make.
Vastly superior to steel Despite energy-intensive production methods, aluminum offers huge opportunities for savings. A
MAKING CARS WITH ALUMINUM used to be unthinkable – the “miracle metal” once cost more than gold or platinum.
study by the U.S. Department of Energy found that aluminum-intensive vehicles save almost 12 times as much energy during their lifetimes as is spent in producing the material. The new SL’s bodyshell, for example, weighs around 110 kg (240 lbs) less
PHOTOS: DAIMLER AG
than its predecessor – the reduced weight means The dominant Silver Arrows racing cars of the
superior to the steel construction of the car’s pred-
less fuel and better performance. According to a
1930s signaled the start of the triumphant con-
ecessor, thanks largely to the different processes
rule of thumb in the industry, shaving 100 kg off
quest of the automotive industry by aluminum.
used to manufacture components and optimize
a car’s weight reduces fuel consumption by some
The bodyshell of the new SL models is faithful
them for their intended purpose: thus some parts
0.3 liters per 100 km (0.08 gal / 62 miles). Over a
to this tradition – its lightweight aluminum con-
are made by casting, others by extrusion, still oth-
vehicle’s entire lifecycle, the impact is very posi-
struction improves performance while simultane-
ers are produced as panels. According to a recent
tive, saving time and money.
ously reducing fuel consumption and emissions. In
study by McKinsey, the metal that once captured
With this in mind it is easy to join with Jules Verne
terms of rigidity and safety, the new metal is also
Jules Verne’s imagination is today’s most effec-
in crying “Hurrah for aluminum!” 73
F I N D I N G Y O U R W A Y A R O U N D A N U N K N O W N C I T Y is always an enjoyable challenge – you feel like something between an explorer and a conqueror. This Crumpled City map by designer Emanuele Pizzolorusso appeals to one’s sense of adventure – after all, you’re not exploring the terrain from the comfort of your desk but braving the elements as you navigate the side streets and intersections. The waterproof and tear-resistant map can be crumpled up and stuffed into the smallest pocket without suffering damage. With its help you can explore 27 cities, from San Francisco to Tokyo. 12.50 euros.
CITY MAP
Screwed up www . pizzolorusso . com
Emanuele Pizzolorusso and his city maps
T R A V E L
P L A C E S
P L E A S U R E
L I F E S T Y L E
M O B I L I T Y LUXURY RESORT
Isolated islands www . songsaa . com
Y O U R E A L LY H A V E T O W A N T T O get away from it all to enjoy the isolation and relaxation on offer at Song Saa Private Island Resort. The complex is located on a couple of islands off the coast of Cambodia that can only be reached by boat or seaplane. It boasts luxurious overwater, rainforest and beach villas, as well as a hotel with a spa and a celebrity cook. Apart from every luxury imaginable, all you will find there is complete and utter peace. The pool overlooks the Koh Rong archipelago. Villas start at 574 euros per night
Outside, a trunk; inside, a desk
LUGGAGE
Open for work www . restorationhardware . com
A N Y O N E W H O H A S T O work during vacations must sometimes long for their own desk. Which is where the “Richards Secretary Trunk” comes in – it opens to reveal a fully-equipped workstation for the global traveler. The idea dates from the 19th century and has been revived by furniture designer Timothy Oulton. The vintagelook desk/trunk is yours for 3,145 dollars. 74
B I C YC L E
Eco-cycle www . fritsch - durisotti . com
C Y C L I N G has always been a green activity, but there is scope for making such a healthy travel mode even more environmentally friendly, as French designers Fritsch and Durisotti have demonstrated with their B2o-vélo-bambou, as the prototype is called. The frame and forks of this ecofriendly velocipede are made of durable bamboo, and even the saddle, handlebars and decals are manufactured using sustainable materials.
CAMPING
Content www . fieldcandy . com
Fancy crawling into a book or counting sheep?
The bike’s frame and forks are made of bamboo
I N T H E P A S T , tents were not exactly accessories that said much about their owners. Camouflage green or gray didn’t offer much scope for expressing one’s personality. But now the designers at UK company Fieldcandy have changed all that. Convinced that a tent should say something about the person inside, they have come up with a collection printed with watermelons, sheep, starry skies, book covers and butterflies. The tents are perhaps not ideal if you are trying to keep a low profile – but they certainly enhance the camping experience! Prices from 474 euros.
A L L E GRA MCEVEDY has seen it all – and sampled it, too. For 20 years the British celebrity cook took notes on the dishes she came across in various countries around the world – and now she has brought them together in her cookbook Bought, Borrowed & Stolen. The collection contains not only recipes but also an introduction to her collection of regional knives, ranging from a Burmese machete to an American steak knife – plus a host of anecdotes about people and places.
COOKBOOK
Cooking around the world www . octopusbooks . co . uk
75
M O B I L I T Y
76
Relaxation of a different kind: beneath Christian Thanhäuser’s portraits of wild plants (left) or the hallucinogenic varieties used by food artist Paul Renner (see p. 84) at Almhof Schneider’s Chamber of Drugs and Wonders. Below: snow-bound Oberlech seen from the Rüfikopf
TRACKS IN THE SNOW
Peak season Compared with other ski areas, Lech is a dwarf. Yet this tiny resort has one thing that allows it to punch above its weight – inhabitants that flout convention. words bene benedikt
photos christian kain
77
M O B I L I T Y
N
owhere does it quite like Lech, not even when it comes to making bread,” grins Clemens Walch, caressing a hand-shaped roll. He is the village’s only baker and takes pride in his work. Around 20 tons of flour are permanently in storage, “just in case we get snowed in” – as happened during the severe weather in early January this year. From four in the morning he is out delivering 1,000 loaves and 25,000 rolls and pastries. All made to Clemens’ own recipes or his grandfather’s. “Recipes from the lowlands don’t always work here,” he explains, “as we rarely have humidity levels above 20 percent. That’s why our snow is so good.” Powdery, he means. And omnipresent. For in the region that lays claim to developing modern alpine ski technique, the snow sometimes falls for days. The village of Lech
Village butcher Florian Hagen (above) and his business idea: he serves prime quality Simmental beef in his restaurant. Handsemmeln (“handrolls”, right) are shaped by the baker’s own fair hands
stands at 1,450 meters (4,757 ft), on the border between Tyrol and Vorarlberg, its lifts accessing the mountains to a height of 2,400 m (7,874 ft). Lech is a paradise for skiers – freeriders in particular – and boasts 122 kilometers (76 miles) of trails, with no shortage of deep powder descents.
A world apart It may not sound a lot compared to some of the huge ski resorts – but theirs is precisely The one-piece ski suits are pulled on just before the start of the Weisser Ring ski race (above). Participants are in high spirits (left) and have their lucky charms to hand (right)
the image Lech am Arlberg is trying to avoid. Those who take the often difficult but rewarding approach over the Flexenpass, with its imposing avalanche galleries, enter a different world. When they head for little Lech, royalty, celebrities and snow connoisseurs all know what they are letting themselves in for. For one thing, they are aware that they will not always be guaranteed a trail back to the resort, or that only advanced skiers can get round it all in a clockwise direction (and only backcountry experts anti-clockwise), that although the ski domains of St. Anton and Warth appear to be nearby, they are in fact worlds apart. Clemens the baker nods: “The Walser people don’t like to be told what to do.” The Walser are the original inhabitants of the Arlberg, mountain settlers who arrived over 750 years ago from what is now Wallis
78
THE VILLAGE
of Lech, birthplace of modern alpine ski technique, lies in a region where it can snow for days.
79
M O B I L I T Y to cultivate the wild Alpine valleys as free farmers. They were experienced craftsmen, built sturdy wooden farmsteads that could withstand avalanches, were practiced in cattle rearing, not to mention milk and cheese production, and – perhaps most importantly – knew what it took for humans and animals to survive the severe S TAT S
M-Class ML 250 BlueTec 4Matic Engine / Output 2.1-liter four-cylinder diesel, 150 kW at 4,200 rpm; max torque 500 Nm at 1,600–1,800 rpm
tinue to shape life in Lech today. Perhaps it’s because descendants of pioneers are born with a stubborn gene. Men like Georg Strolz, the artloving owner of Hotel Austria, and his brother Marcell. Over 15 years ago, the two had a gripe about the oil sheikhs that came to Lech to ski: spoiling them good and proper was one thing, but buying their oil? Didn’t Lech have enough
Transmission 7G-Tronic Plus 7-speed automatic
wood to keep its villagers warm – and remain
Acceleration 0–100 km/h (62 mph) in 9.0 s
Self-assertively independent
Top speed 210 km/h (130 mph)
hotels and spa pools with district heating
Fuel consumption urban: 7.6–7.0 l diesel/100 km (30.9–33.6 mpg) inter-urban: 5.8–5.4 l diesel/100 km (40.5–43.5 mpg) combined: 6.5–6.0 l diesel/100 km (36.1–39.2 mpg) CO2 emissions combined: 170–158 g/km (273–254 g/mi) Energy rating A Cd 0.32
80
winters. These proud, independent people con-
carbon neutral and independent in the process?
Before long a plan was in place to supply the generated from locally produced wood chips. Construction work started in April 1999, the boiler was switched on in November and hot water was piped to the first 20 members, who promptly scrapped their own water heaters and converted oil storage facilities into saunas, ski cellars and storerooms. For the first year the new energy was more expensive than the old, but by year two the system was repaying the investment. Today it supplies 270 subscribers in Lech, Oberlech, Zug and Zürs. Star architect Hermann Kaufmann, one of the gurus of modern Vorarlberg construction, designed the Zürs power plant: a transparent
Trunk capacity 690–2,010 liters
boiler building with large glazed areas and a
The values stated 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.
edly show off the state-of-the-art technology,
www.mercedes-benz.com
mated: from delivery by truck and fill-
low storage depot, giant cubes that unashamyet fit discreetly into the mountain surroundings. Project manager Marcell Strolz was also determined that the chimneys should give off neither smoke nor steam. He is proud that his plant operates without visible emissions at -15°C (5°F). The whole process is fully auto-
Bernd Fischer (facing page), a board member at Raiffeisenbank, is also in the mountain rescue team. Fun time at the Weisser Ring ski race (right): local band members provide some musical encouragement. Race participants on the descent (far right)
LECH AM ARLBERG
is a paradise for skiers – especially for freeriders. The steep and deep owder runs are almost limitless.
81
M O B I L I T Y ing the 4-megawatt boiler with wood chips, to dedusting the waste gases using a centrifugal separator and electrostatic precipitator. “This is the Mercedes of flue gas purification systems,” Strolz throws in casually. He clearly enjoys the idea that the sheikhs have lost annual sales of 6 million liters (1.6 million gallons) of oil to Lech,
MANY A FIVE-STAR establishment in Lech grew from modest but bold beginnings.
yet still come to ski and enjoy its spas. Lech accommodates 13,000 people in winter: around 8,200 visitors, 3,300 employees and 1,600 locals. 14,000 skiers each day are given access to the ski domain. Once the limit is reached, the sale of day passes is suspended, avoiding long lift lines and overcrowded slopes.
From hobby to business idea Bernd Fischer is happy with that. For 30 days a year, the Raiffeisenbank board member swaps his sober suit for the red overalls of the helicopter mountain rescue team. From eight to five he is on standby, along with the pilot and emergency doctor. They average three operations a day. Small wonder, then, that they keep a jumbosized Toblerone in the sparse recreation room, and that after many years at the bank or in and beneath the helicopter, 52-year-old Fischer is looking forward to a new challenge. In his garage stands a Mercedes G in which he plans to travel overland to Bhutan next year, where he has set up relief projects for children. Globalization Lech-style, you might say. Much like the achievements of Florian Hagen: the 31-year-old is Lech’s village butcher, as was his father before him. Growing competition from the gastronomic wholesale merchants forced Florian and his father to take a long, hard look at their future. And from his father’s hobby and the existing meatloaf business evolved a business idea. The sausage kitchen was transformed into a simple, elegant restaurant purveying the mouthwatering fruits of Hagen Sr.’s hobby: skillfully aged prime cuts of sirloin. Grilled to perfection by his wife in the tiny kitchen, the steaks are already the stuff of legend. The two-year sommelier course Florian took during his roaming apprenticeship as butcher and chef restaurateur only 82
A glimpse inside the Allmeinde, or “common ground” (above), a spartan exhibition space in Lech. Not to be missed: a fondue with musical accompaniment at Restaurant Klösterle (right)
adds to the culinary experience – ensuring the
Mayor Ludwig Muxel (left): “Lech and Mercedes – it’s a symbiosis of two top brands.” Perfect hosts (right): Gerold Schneider and his wife Katia
diner has a good glass of wine to aid digestion. This “snack bar” is anything but a hideout for the smart set, however. Here you are more likely to see Lech families out for a quick lunch, or the car park manager taking a break from selling snow chains. And along with a few essential groceries you can still get a slice of meatloaf in a roll to go.
Art in the snow That’s still occasional comfort food for a ski instructor – private visitors to Lech can make demanding clients. Most are already such accomplished skiers they simply want a guide rather than lessons in stem turns. But that suits Walter Göggelmann. Proud of his roots in Swabian Mercedes country, as he puts it, the ski guide nonchalantly waves aside a question about his favorite route. It all depends – the one with the best snow, with the most beautiful light, or perhaps the one in which he and his clients have just made fresh tracks. Hotelier Gerold Schneider has much the same attitude: when it snows, he simply has to make time for a short trip with the rocker skis and airbag backpack. On these tours he occasionally encounters a solitary black figure, often just a head, peering out of the snow – one of the 100 cast-iron statues by British artist Antony Gormley. All are cast from the same mold of the artist’s naked body, all positioned at exactly 2,039 m (6,690 ft) above sea level. The two Strolz brothers helped select the locations and It’s party time in the Schneggarei (above) after the Weisser Ring race. At White Winners Night (left), sponsored by MercedesBenz, race participants are presented with their awards
install “Horizon Field”. Art is also the story of Gerold Schneider’s life. He had no plans to take over Almhof Schneider, the hotel started by his great-grandfather in 1929. The five-star establishment grew from modest yet bold beginnings. Gerold studied philosophy, literature and art theory in Vienna, but was drawn back to Lech to help with the family business following the sudden death of his father and the illness of his brother. It was to prove a stroke of good fortune that his wife Katia was an architect who brought with her baggage from a colorful life – a childhood in Lebanon, a Heidi 83
M O B I L I T Y ADDRESSES
Lech ACCOMMODATIONS Almhof Schneider 5-star luxury hotel. Stylish restaurant, half board with 7-course menu, elegant spa. From 300 euros pp incl. half board. Tannberg 59, A-6764 Lech Tel. +43 (0)5583 3500 w w w. a l m h o f. a t
Hotel Kristiania Modern art and themed rooms (“Sultan Süleyman”) in beautiful setting at the edge of the village, good restaurant. From 220 euros pp incl. half board. Omesberg 331, A-6764 Lech Tel. +43 (0)5583 25610 In the Lech sunshine, skiers can enjoy a brief piste-stop or a cozy après-ski drink on the terrace of the Frozen Icebar
w w w. k r i s t i a n i a . a t
film star at the age of 11, teenage years in Rome. The Schneiders, too, are Walser people who like to question conventional thinking. They have a barn that could easily be converted into office space or an apartment for a hotelier couple and their children. Instead, they named it “Allmeinde” (common ground) and use it as a public exhibition space, with an apartment concealed inside. The hotel ski room looks like some futuristic sacristy with its heated, shrine-like lockers for your boots around a circular cowhide sofa. The door leads directly to the ski lift – naturally. A day’s skiing with Gerold Schneider is an intoxicating experience – as is lounging in chef de cuisine Vizenz Klimmer’s award-winning
Hotel Rote Wand Rustic rooms for romantic fondue evenings or gourmet menus. From 168 euros pp incl. half board. Zug 5, A-6764 Lech Tel. +43 (0)5583 34350 w w w. r o t e wa n d . c o m
TREAT YOURSELF Hagen’s Dorfmetzgerei & Imbiss High-end local store with restaurant. Daily except Sundays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., restaurant from 11.30 a.m. Dorf 134, A-6764 Lech Tel. +43 (0)5583 2303 w w w. h ag e n s . a t
work their magic. Here, Vorarlberg food artist Paul Renner has depicted 114 hallucinogenic plants; the Schneiders call it their Chamber of Drugs and Wonders. And they don’t just mean that figuratively. Once a year they organize a gastronomic event, for which Renner designs culinary creations from alpine plants and other natural products – then allows them to take effect. Like the man said, nowhere does it quite like Lech. 84
Frozen Icebar Everything here is ice cold, apart from the Swarovski crystals, the cozy animal skins and the smiles of the guests as they sip their perfectly chilled champagne. Bergstation Schlegelkopflift, Tel. +43 (0)5583 41825-51 w w w. f r o z e n l e c h . c o m
Cool furnishings: the Frozen Icebar
ILLUSTR ATION: ANNA LINDER
restaurant and letting the pictures on the walls
From the Rüfikopf down to Zürs
LECH SPEC If you’re a serious winter sports enthusiast, you’ll be spoiled for choice in the Arlberg. A day’s skiing in Lech begins with the ride up the Rüfikopf in one of the two G O N D O L A S . Powder-hounds who like it deep then have a choice of routes back to Lech; and for those who like it steep, there’s the L A N G E R Z U G descent to Stubenbach with a ski bus transfer back to the resort. “Normal” skiers follow the route of the W E I S S E R R I N G – the legendary race held every year in mid-January that sees 1,000 participants complete a circumnavigation of the village of Lech. The best time for the 22 km (13.75 miles) and 5,500 meters (18,000 ft) of elevation gain is 46 minutes 4 seconds, as at 2012. H E L I T O U R S can drop you on top of the Mehlsack at 2,652 m (8,700 ft) or above the Schneetal on the Braunarlspitze. And afternoons? Spa back at the hotel or a stroll through the village: a visit to the M E R C E D E S R A R I T Y in the Raiffeisenbank showroom, to village dressmaker Sonia Zimmermann, whose Lenai + Linai label is currently all the rage, to Walch the bakery for cakes, to the O F F R O A D E X P E R I E N C E by Mercedes in Zugertal or aprèsski in the Schneggarei. The most spectacular walk takes you to Zug and is best done in the evening as a prelude to dinner at the Klösterle or Rote Wand. The T O B O G G A N R U N from Oberlech down to the village is floodlit until 10 p.m. and the gondola operates until one in the morning.
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M O B I L I T Y JUST PASSING
A brave new world is rapidly replacing the old, familiar one. PETER GLASER bids a nostalgic farewell to:
THE POSTER 01
05
S O O N all our urban spaces will begin to look like Times Square
evision screen. The decline of the poster is transforming our sense
kyo: entire façades hidden by massive screens showing non-stop
of being surrounded by still pictures, the only movement coming
videos. The traditional poster is rapidly disappearing and will soon
from passing pedestrians and vehicles. Instead, we increasingly
be little more than a nostalgic memory that returns briefly when
find ourselves in an electronic urban environment where flickering 30
lights rule supreme. But are we losing anything with the demise
ties festooned with such huge monitors already feature in futuristic
of the poster?
science-fiction movies.
What we are certainly losing are those huge, immobile pictures
The humble poster with its static image is gradually disappearing
consisting of several photographs specially designed to be joined
and giving way to moving pictures. More and more hybrid forms
together to create a single, massive image that is visible from afar.
can already be found – such as the flat, glass screen-like cases by
15
slowly being taken over by the soothing, hypnotic flicker of the tel-
or the spectacular surroundings of Shibuya railroad station in To-
an image occasionally freezes on the flickering screens. Megaci-
10
25
35
The closer you came to this sort of poster, the more grotesque the
the roadside in which images roll past incessantly, replacing each
jumbo-sized images appeared. Nowadays, any that remain are be-
other in rapid succession, each visible only for a few seconds before
coming bigger and bigger until they sometimes cover the façades
the next comes along. Other systems operate like roller blinds, with
of entire buildings. But with their essential quality of serenity and
the image made up of thin strips that regularly rotate to form a new picture. In other words, the hectic pace of modern life has begun
stillness, they are rapidly becoming a thing of the past. 40
to affect even the old-fashioned poster. But the more the picture
The messy inadequacies of the analogue world
moves, the further it is from being a true poster.
The classic way to view a poster was to drive past it. A wall covered with posters was like a kind of static film, with the passing viewer
20
Cathedrals of the modern world In public spaces – station concourses, stadiums and the show-
88
acting as the projector. If you looked at one more closely – on a 45
billboard or a bus shelter, for example – you could see for yourself
rooms of global consumer brands – the next stage has already been
what this seductive art form was actually made up of. Under closer
reached: the poster has been replaced by massive flat screens with
scrutiny, the hugely magnified picture turned out to be a matrix
LED displays. These cathedral-like spaces of our modern world are
of colored dots resulting from the four-color printing process. You
could also see all the folds and joins – and sometimes even a
49
PU BL ICAT ION DE TA I L S
streak of bird dropping or glistening traces of resin from an overhanging linden tree. Posters like these served as a sort of shabby
Published by Daimler AG · Communications · HPC 402 · D-70546 Stuttgart
backdrop for the drama of urban life. With the advent of moving electronic images on huge screens,
Responsible on behalf of the publishers Mirjam Bendak
we are going to lose quite a few things: the added graffiti, the random superimposition of one poster on another, the tattered
55
sections that slipped out of alignment – in short, all the messy inadequacies of the analogue world. Electronic images glide
Concept and Editing Condé Nast Verlag GmbH · Karlstrasse 23 · D-80333 München
smoothly across the screen without any irregularities or any glued edges. And the expensive screens themselves are out of reach – you can’t get anywhere like as close to them as you could
60
out of reach and out of touch.
Careful ritual of replacement 65
er is instantaneous, whereas replacing a poster used to involve a special ritual involving two men, a ladder, a bucket of glue and a wallpaper brush. And it wasn’t just a question of slapping a new poster on top of the old one. First, a layer of white paper had to be applied to prevent any elements from the old picture
Managing Director Moritz von Laffert Senior Publisher Wolfgang Winter
to the robust old billboards. As a result, the images are distant –
With electronic images, the transition from one scene to anoth-
Publisher’s Council Dr. Joachim Schmidt (Chairman) · Daniel Bartos · Thomas Fröhlich Lüder Fromm · Julia Hofmann · Christoph Horn · Jörg Howe · Anders Sundt Jensen
70
showing through.
Editor at Large David Pfeifer (responsible for editorial content) Art Director Markus Rindermann Managing Editor Tobias Nebl Chief Copy Editor Martin Trockner Editorial Contributors Bene Benedikt, Jenny Buchholz, Peter Glaser, Lukas M. Guster, Manfred Klimek, Sunny Kröger, Michael Moorstedt, Volker Rachow, Hannah Sartorius, Thomas Schulz, Martin Trockner, Christof Vieweg, Gerhard Waldherr Deputy Art Director Dirk Meycke Director of Photography Birgit Biechele Final Editing Edda Benedikt Final Graphics Stefanie Ferstl Advertising Daimler AG: Maja Brechlin
This careful process of replacing one paper surface with anDistribution
other is something we will miss, especially that moment when the entire surface had become white, and the men with the bucket held up the sections of the new poster in front of them
75
as though they were trying out new clothes in a department store mirror. And sometimes, when a billboard hadn’t yet been rented out, the surface would remain in this pristine white state
Production
for several days – a pleasing blank space in a world cluttered with visual stimuli.
ILLUSTR ATION: MARIO WAGNER
P E T E R G L A S E R is a prize-winning author, blogger and journalist who has been writing about the digital lifestyle for many years.
Daimler AG: Uwe Haspel Mercedes-Benz magazine reader service: Zenit Pressevertrieb GmbH · Postfach 810580 · D-70552 Stuttgart Tel. 0800 0010001 · leserservice@zenit-presse.de Annual subscription: EUR 22 · CHF 34 · Free of charge for MercedesCard holders.
80
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
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 324, 58th year of publication Printed on chlorine-free paper · Printed in Germany 6720032402 ISSN 1617-6677
M O B I L I T Y A bottle of Aceto Balsamico is allowed to show its age
Sour power
Reductio ad balsamico: evaporation, concentration and caramelization are staging posts on the slow, epicurean byway from Modena to Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale. words and photos manfred klimekm
90
W
trated vinegars of Modena. Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale was a typical regional product of Italy. But then, vinegar is vinegar, isn’t it? It sure isn’t. It’s easy to spot the outward signs of Balsamico Tradizionale from Modena: the little bottle and a double-digit number. A cream-colored cap says the vinegar is at least 12 years old, while a gold cap says it has ma-
ine. It could have turned into wine. That was in
tured for at least 25 years in a battery of bar-
its infancy as must, unfermented grape juice. Instead, it has made its way to master chef Massimo Bottura’s condiment shelf. Welcome
rels that have grown smaller from year to year. Along with the taste, the color is crucial
to Osteria Francescana, a gourmet restaurant
Balsamico demands patience Balsamic vinegar isn’t hard to make, but it
at the heart of Modena, a place mass tourism
all,” says Carlo Petrini, who heads up the re-
does take time. First you cook the must of
seems to bypass.
spected Slow Food organization. “The simple
white grapes – traditionally Trebbiano or Sau-
Massimo Bottura loves the town and its sur-
fact is that the cheaper versions are not genu-
vignon, although some producers use Lam-
roundings, not least on account of their gas-
ine balsamic vinegars at all.” Sad to say, any
brusco grapes, which barely affects the flavor.
tronomic specialties. Just down the road is
vinegar can slap on the label “balsamico” –
Once the boiled-down must, or mosto cotto,
ham-hung Parma. The local fields serve up
which is a thorn in the flesh of the established
has thickened and been filtered, you pour in
a delicious basket of vegetables and the dair-
producers in Modena and Reggio Emilia. They
some balsamic vinegar – at least ten years old
ies stock row upon row of Parmesan cheeses,
rightly fear that their proud tradition is being
– and a good amount of young wine. Then add
gaining flavor by the hour. Then there’s the
watered down.
at least 12 years of evaporation and concen-
light-red Lambrusco that needn’t be the sickly-
In bygone days, only a few thousand gourmets
tration. During this time the vinegar will be
sweet shortcut to a hangover. And finally, Aceto
worldwide were familiar with the concen-
transferred from one barrel to the next,
Balsamico – balsamic vinegar – the genuine item from Modena itself. Bottura has a bottle to hand, a tiny flask in fact, barely ten centimeters (4 in.) high, holding 1/8 of a liter and topped with a gold cap. “We call this ‘Tradizionale’; this one’s 50 years old. It’s the only genuine balsamic vinegar,” says Bottura. Later on we’ll meet someone who disagrees. And they’ll both be right. As so often in Italy, in Modena there are two versions of the truth. Bottura stirs a drop – a single drop – of balsamic vinegar into the sauce, then drizzles a fine-spun thread around the rim of the plate, for the patron to scoop up with a fingertip and savor at the last. “There we go,” says Bottura, positions three vegetables on one side of the PHOTOS: COLOURBOX (1)
plate and sends it on its way. “You don’t need more. Balsamico is precious.”
Battery-bred balm He’s right, of course, and yet there’s also cheap
FULL OF CHARACTER But not of tourists – which has its advantages.
balsamic vinegar to be had. A paradox? “Not at 91
M O B I L I T Y from larger to smaller, each made of a different kind of wood. While the first may be an oak barrel, the smaller kegs are often chestnut, cherry, ash or mulberry, each adding its own flavor. As it evaporates, the young balsamic vinegar is regularly enriched with a portion of older vinegar. There are many different methods, but the producers are understandably not telling, to ensure that the precise mixture or “coupage” remains their secret.
ANOTHER DAY DRAWS TO A CLOSE In its time-scarred kegs, the Aceto Balsamico matures for up to 50 years.
The legitimate few It’s no secret, however, that the vinegar lofts where the barrels are lodged don’t exactly smell of roses. Many of the smaller producers store them under the roofs of their homes because that is where the temperature fluctuates most. Low winter temperatures interrupt the evaporation process and reduce the turbidity. In winter, they say in Modena, the vinegar stays home. When a vinegar producer expands, like the Acetaia del Cristo owned by the Barbieri family, they build a storehouse next to their home and “export” the odors. Erika Barbieri is one of the few women in this sweet-sour business. Companies like hers are the unfailing heart of the Italian economy – family firms turning out an authentic product and making it an international success. And yet on the surface, their fattoria looks like any other farm. Acetaia del Cristo is
Exquisite: three alternatives to traditional balsamic vinegar
94 92
SHERRY VINEGAR In the Jerez de la Frontera region of southern Spain, many sherry bodegas also make a large number of exclusive vinegars, especially with Palomino, Muscat or Pedro Ximénez grapes. These varietals all yield a juice that is fruity and velvety. Vinegar made of Pedro Ximénez grapes is also sweeter and more aromatic than many balsamic vinegars from Italy.
APPLE BALSAMIC VINEGAR Austria’s Alois Gölles is one of few farmers who have perfected the Italian method; he lets apple vinegar mature in oak for longer periods until it becomes an exclusive balsamic. The difference in flavor can be tasted in the clear apple notes, which some cooks appreciate more than the grape flavor found in traditional balsamic vinegar.
C H A MPAG NE VINEGAR Champagne vinegar is not made into balsamic; instead, it matures for one to three years in large wooden barrels. With its mild sweetness, it is commonly used by the French to enhance dishes, even heartier cuisine. You frequently encounter this in the Champagne region, where vinegar is used at most fine restaurants.
a member of the consortium of Traditionalists.
FINE CUISINE
According to many delicatessen owners, these
Balsamico
are the only legitimate suppliers of “genuine” Aceto Balsamico, which must not be confused with industrial copycat products that try to match the taste by using cheap wine vinegars, caramel and glycerol. The Traditionalists deliberately set themselves apart from other regional producers – something that sticks in Claudio Stefani’s craw. He’s the one who vehemently disagrees about Tradizionale being the only true balsamic vinegar. Stefani heads up Acetaia Giusti, an operation that exports thousands of bottles a day to countries around the world. Giusti makes young vinegars and old ones – the latter by the same methods used for Tradizionale and achieving the same high quality. What the Traditional-
Master chef and Balsamico fan: Massimo Bottura
Watching chef Massimo Bottura at work is like being at a conjuror’s show – especially when he digs into his unconventional bag of tricks to refine a dish with Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale. His Croccantino di Foie Gras serves as a good example. To start with, our master chef steeps 400 g of duck foie gras in milk for a few hours before marinating it for six hours in Calvados and 10 g of cloves. He then places the foie gras in a terrine and cooks it in a vacuum bag at 55°C (130°F) for 35 minutes, before shock-freezing the liver down to 2°C (35°F) and letting it sit in the refrigerator for two
ists are sour about is that Giusti can turn out
days. When the 48-hour chill is up, he boils 2 cl of water with 5 g of sugar, half a vanilla bean and the peel of an orange, stirring into this syrup 30 g of chopped Noto almonds and 300 g of chopped Piemont hazelnuts. The mixture is spread onto a baking sheet and seasoned with fleur de sel before being caramelized in the oven at 200°C (390°F). Once it has cooled, Bottura breaks it into fine pieces. Using a warmed knife, he slices the liver into two pieces measuring approximately 8 x 4 x 1.5 centimeters (3 x 1.3 x 0.5 in.). Then he takes a cinnamon stick, carefully creates a small hole in each piece, and drips in some Aceto Balsamico di Modena Tradizionale Extra Vecchio. Finally, he patches up the hole with a little piece of the leftover liver, inserts a popsicle stick from the other side, and rolls the liver in the nut mixture. Ecco – the master chef’s delectable creation is ready to be savored.
so many bottles of old balsamic vinegar that tastes like their own products. Which is not to say Stefani can use their seal, because he can’t – on account of also producing young vinegars. At the Giusti factory it looks just like any traditional operation, except that alongside the hundreds of small barrels there are also several large tanks. Back in the kitchen, Massimo Bottura refuses to drizzle a Tradizionale over a salad. “Much too precious,” he says. And to make his point he savors a single drop, licked from his fingertip. The myriad flavors in here can only be created and blended by time-honored techniques, honed by knowledge and experience. “Making vinegar is not an art form,” says Erika Barbieri, “but it’s not child’s play either.” Countless factors determine how the vinegar evolves over the years. Sometimes a whole battery of barrels will be lost to a rogue fungus. Years of work down the pan. Massimo Bottura PHOTOS: STOCKFOOD (1)
picks up a pipette, draws out a measure of the 50-year-old vinegar and drips it over sliced strawberries. It’s a familiar combination of flavors, but the avant-garde master chef is a great believer in traditions: “If it tastes right,” he says, “it is right.”
A precious ingredient: Aceto Balsamico
93
M O M E N T S
MERCEDES-BENZ
LAUREUS WORLD SPORTS AWARDS
PHOTOS: ACENCY PEOPLE, BABIR AT PICTURE, DDP IMAGES (4), GET T Y IMAGES
Ahead of the 2012 Olympics, sporting greats gathered in London to celebrate this year’s award-winners.
94
Bryan Ferry sang “Slave to Love” and “Don’t Stop the Dance” as a warm-up for the evening’s party
Olympic champion Denise Lewis before the event
Central Hall – lit up as for a royal wedding
I
t isn’t often that stars turn fans them-
selves. But Clive Owen, who hosted the 2012 Laureus Awards, confessed his passion for soccer virtually in the same breath as he greeted the audience attending the star-studded event. He was duly excited about meeting Sir Alex Ferguson and other legends of the “beautiful game”. A Liverpool fan, Owen provided regular updates on developments in the game that his team was playing as sports greats and Hollywood celebrities took turns on the stage
Bar Refaeli and Lennox Lewis announce the Sportsman of the Year
“ Sport is a world language – it unites.” DALEY THOMPSON
Sergey Bubka, member of the Laureus Academy
Gave speeches: actors Elsa Pataky and Chris Hemsworth
95
M O M E N T S
In the spotlight: Novak Djokovic and his trophy
“It’s the climax of an incredible season.” NOVAK DJOKOVIC
at Westminster City Hall. Earlier in the day, some of the sports personalities had visited one of the many children’s and youth projects that are supported by Laureus. Then, in the evening, it was time to present the awards and celebrate in true style at the glittering black tie event. And so, at the end of a long and exciting Laureus day, there were really only winners: Most colorful tie of the evening: Ion Tiriac
award-winners, party guests and the children around whom Laureus revolves. Only Liverpool had to settle for a draw – but Owen took it in good grace.
Thandie Newton on her way to laud a winner
Academy Chairman Ed Moses with his wife and the Beckers
96
“Blade runner” Oscar Pistorius with his award
Windsurfer Philip Köster brought his mother along
PHOTOS: BR AUER PHOTOS (2), DAIMLER AG (3), DDP IMAGES, GET T Y IMAGES (5), INTERTOPICS, PEOPLE PICTURE, XPOSURE PICTURE
Ihit invenis namust hilia dolor sit, audigni hilluptaque lacessi nu
Auto enthusiast Günter Netzer and his wife beside the new SL
Marathon world record holder Tegla Loroupe
Monica Seles was involved in a Laureus project in the morning
Luke Wilson and his girlfriend
A Who’s Who of world sports: the Laureus Academy gathers in front of a large image of the award
“ Sport has the power to change the world.”
Westminster Central Hall provided the perfect setting for the awards ceremony
Host Clive Owen kept the audience up to date on developments in the Liverpool game
NELSON MANDELA ON THE L AU R E U S F O U N DAT I O N
Fashion designer Ozwald Boateng Ewith V A companion PADBERG
97
RETROSPECTIVE
H E W O N H I S F I R S T W O R L D T I T L E with McLaren, but off the track Ayrton Senna drove Mercedes. It’s possible that this close bond was sealed after the man still considered the fastest ever Formula 1 driver celebrated one of his first big successes in a Mercedes. That was in May 1984, when Niki Lauda invited him to take part in a show race marking the opening of the Nürburgring’s new Grand Prix track. 20 drivers, including nine former F1 world champions, lined up at the wheel of 20 identical Mercedes-Benz 190 E touring cars. Alongside Lauda were such luminaries as Alain Prost, Keke Rosberg and James Hunt. Emerson Fittipaldi, however, had to pull out at short notice. The
São Paulo, Brazil
Brazilian legend was replaced by his still relatively unknown compatriot Senna, who had made his grand prix debut two months earlier. At the end of the 12-lap race, Senna – as would become a frequent sight – stood on the top step of the podium, having finished more than two seconds ahead of the second-placed Lauda. This shot was taken soon after in Senna’s garden in São Paulo. There is an air of affection about how he shows off his Nürburg winnings – a blue-black metallic 190 E.
A Y R T O N S E N N A , 19 8 4 98
PHOTO: IMAGO SPORTFOTODIENST
19 0 E