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November 01, 2006 This Week:
© 1998 - 2006
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The daily record posted between Riga and Tallin was even lower at 6.0 litres. At the same time the E-Classes demonstrated their high reliability in continuous operation. The only accident in the combined total of 120,000 kilometres travelled was a flat tyre.
Positive Experiences in the East The relaxed atmosphere in Eastern Europe was a surprising experience for many participants. “In my head I still have magazine photos of grey buildings and sad-looking people. And now I am seeing happy faces all around me“, said Javier Reynagas. The 40-year reporter from the Mexican daily newspaper”El Economista“ is driving a special protection E-Class saloon by MB Guard to St. Petersburg. This is the first diesel saloon worldwide to be offered with B4 resistance level protection, which includes bullet-proof windshields, antiballistic reinforcement guards in the vehicle floor, and is carrying particularly valuable cargo to Beijing: three bottles of magnum in the trunk for the toasts at the end of the marathon in three weeks.
Iris Zimmermanns, 39, who was selected for the long-distance drive from over 50,000 Internet applicants, has meanwhile had some new experiences between Vilnius and Tallin:”I was amazed to discover how many people there speak excellent English. “ Old Europe’s New Shine The highlights of the “E-Class Experience“ are provided not only by personal encounters and the great variety of landscapes during the journey – ranging from the metropolitan regions of Paris, Berlin, and Warsaw to the untouched countryside of the Masurian and Baltic regions – but also by the sightseeing landmarks along the route, which include eight UNESCO World Heritage sites in the first leg alone: the Banks of the River Seine in Paris, Place Stanislas in Nancy, the Museum island in Berlin and the historic centres of Warsaw, Vilnius, Riga, Tallin and St. Petersburg. The event venues likewise reflected the motto of the first leg “Old Europe’s New Shine“. Following the kick-off in the magnificent rooms of the Automobile Club de France at Place de la Concorde in Paris and an intermediate stop in the historic Bärensaal ballroom in Berlin, where the German Unification Treaty was negotiated, the first leg was officially completed in the famous marble palace in St. Petersburg. The Mercedes-Benz marathon fleet consists of serial E-Class models, some of which have 4MATIC all wheel drive. In addition to the 33 E 320 CDIs three E-Classes are equipped with BLUETEC technology. This vanguard technology turns the Mercedes-Benz saloon into the cleanest diesel car in the world. The E 320 BLUETEC, which has been offered in Canada and the USA (in 45 US states) since 15 October 2006, uses up to 30 percent less fuel than comparable vehicles with Otto engines in North America. With its enormous range of up to 1200 km on a single tank this vehicle – like the E 320 CDI – is simply predestined for an automobile marathon such as the long distance drive from Paris to Beijing. Taxi to Beijing The most unusual vehicles in the remake of the rally are two taxis from Paris and Stuttgart, which are accompanying the fleet over the entire distance over eight national borders and six time zones. While the meter of the German taxi had already reached the enviable sum of 5,766.29 Euro at the Russian border, the taxi meter of the Parisian taxi stopped at 999.90 Euro. The limit specified for taxi rides from the French capital had already been reached after 614 kilometres. (October 28, 2006)
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