Go Ape!

Colourful Ape spotted out side the Cafe Bistro Charisma in Mayen, Germany.

Business smarts 42: Ring Events, Nurburgring, Germany

Smart Announces Edition Greystyle for Germany

Smart has just launched the ForTwo Edition Greystyle, a luxurious, special-edition version of its commuter car only for the German market.
The special edition Smart features bright yellow highlights to offset the matte grey finish. The Greystyle features body-color, 6-spoke, 15-inch wheels. Yellow accents are found on the mirror covers, instrument bezels, and seat stitching. The Nappa leather used inside is the same grade found in premium Mercedes-Benz offerings.
The ForTwo Greystyle is available in both coupe and convertible form. Engine choices include 71- and 84-hp powerplants. The subcompact also features start/stop technology that shuts off the engine whenever the brakes are applied at less than 5 mph. Smart says the technology can improve fuel economy by as much as 20 percent.
View source.

Business smarts 27: Live from the Nurburgring, Germany

The new Mercedes-Benz Museum

As the inventor of the automobile, DaimlerChrysler has a responsibility to create an adequate forum for automotive history and to give a home to the unique tradition of the Mercedes-Benz brand. On a floor area of 16,500 square meters (178,000 square feet), the Mercedes-Benz Museum provides its visitors with an unforgettable experience of the brand. The central elements encompass the entire tradition of the brand with the three-pointed star – passenger cars, commercial vehicles and motor sport – thus creating a communication platform for the Mercedes-Benz brand that is unparalleled throughout the world. Imaginative, chronologically ordered presentations expound the entire “Mercedes Legend” – from the dawn of automotive history up to visions of the future. Accompanying showcase collections also elucidate the various thematic backgrounds.

Read more here.

The Mercedes-Benz Passage at Mercedes-Benz World in Stuttgart Links Tradition with the Present

A variety of attractions welcome visitors as they walk between the New Mercedes Benz Museum and the adjacent Mercedes-Benz Center Stuttgart. In the Passage they are able to enjoy a variety of catering establishments, purchase souvenirs in different shops dedicated to the brand or make use of additional services such as an ATM, postbox or public telephone.
More than 3000 products bearing the Mercedes star are available here, on a sales area totalling 697 square metres. Interesting literature and high-quality miniatures, carefully selected clothing items and useful day-to-day objects are to be found, as well as luxury watches, decorative home furnishings or small gifts for those left at home.
The Passage also gives visitors an insight into the further activities of the Mercedes Car Group: current models of the high-end Maybach, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren super-sportscar and the smart are on show to illustrate the variety of cars currently on offer.