September 26, 2003

DaimlerChrysler to build new Grand Sports Tourer in Alabama

Stuttgart, Germany - DaimlerChrysler announced that its new Grand Sports Tourer will go into production at the start of 2005 alongside the M-Class at its Tuscaloosa, Alabama plant. The company is investing U.S. $600 million in plant expansion to accomodate the new model.

The Grand Sports Tourer model combines the features of a sedan, wagon and SUV. "This versatile automobile is the result of an intensive dialogue with our clients, whom we have been nurturing for years, in order to identify the wishes of our drivers, analyse them and turn them into new vehicle concepts", said Professor Jürgen Hubbert, a member of the DaimlerChrysler AG Board of Management and head of the Mercedes Car Group. "The leading technology and exciting design so typical of Mercedes will now also be making their mark in this new vehicle category."

The Grand Sports Tourer is being designed as a long-distance car. It will have six individual seats, six and eight cylinder engines, a new seven-speed automatic transmission, electronically-controlled 4-wheel drive, and Airmatic pneumatic suspension.

"The Grand Sports Tourer will be a trendsetter and in doing so will offer, in a nutshell, top levels of technical and emotional intelligence", said Hubbert.

More News....