Every trip begins with its planning and since I have never had the opportunity to drive the new Mercedes Benz GLE, formerly the ML I really looked forward to this 4000 km trip to Cape Town and back. Yes, I know, it is actually only around 3000 km’s, but not the way Annelize and I travel and that is why I opted for the smallest engine in the range being the 250 d.RichText.

The success of any product or brand can only be determined by taking all facets into consideration that make up the whole. To put the new Mercedes Benz E-Class into perspective we need to look at the overall concept of the manufacturer, the products and the service delivery to the clients.

Design and technology determine the direction of generations that follow the initial generation, and, with the Mercedes B-Class, this is no exception. The facelifted B-Class heralds a new compact-era for Mercedes-Benz..

The launch of the Mercedes-Benz S Class Coupé was a really grand occasion, and that is as it should be, for this is truly the world leader in the supreme-luxury segment of the motor industry.

What a surprising experience when I saw the Mercedes-Benz V-Class for the first time. Gone was the awkward-looking Mercedes-Benz bus and, in its place, was a modern, elegant and dynamic multipurpose vehicle.

“Progressive in design, serene in day-to-day motoring and with good off road capability: a wanderer between automotive worlds, the Mercedes Benz GLA reinterprets the compact SUV segment in convincing style. It light-footedly masters all day-to-day challenges and is also robust enough for off-road excursions.”

Mercedes-Benz has gone for ‘the best or nothing’ in the design and development of the new S Class. It has not been prepared to compromise on its core values – hence the new S Class is the totality of all that is possible and is the leader of the pack when it comes to luxury, safety, innovation and sophistication.

A midterm upgrade, or ‘a facelift’ as it is commonly known, normally means a few changes or upgrades to keep a car competitive or to keep up with more modern looks. But when the E Class was launched, it was immediately apparent that this was much more than just a mere ‘nip and tuck’. Instead, it was essentially a total makeover that had produced excellent results in all areas. The front now boasts two grills: one classic in styling and the other sportier, depending on the model. But there is more…

The AMG Sport Line is not only more fashionable, but also looks much more muscular as a result of its prominent body panels and its headlights with dark surrounds. Visually, the back, with its dark, tinted tail-lights, is also much more appealing. As always, the interior is top of the class with its colour-coded topstitching on the seats and their vertical fluting. Customers can, at no extra charge, further enhance the interior by way of contrast-stitching, red seat belts, and perforated leather in the grip area of the steering wheel. A sporty instrument cluster in a ‘chequered flag’ design, black velour floor mats with red piping, and an AMG logo round off the exclusive interior of the AMG Sport Line.

Mercedes Benz’s dream cars include the new E-Class coupé and cabrio models, the SLK and SL sports cars, the CL as well as the CLS and the CLS Shooting Brake, together with the SLS AMG Coupé and SLS AMG Roadster models. In short, the cars are all sports cars in their own right – high-performance, luxury roadsters, coupés and cabriolets, and then there is the unique Shooting Brake. But each and every one of these cars has its own ‘signature’ that you have to deal with – from acceleration to braking, to steering into and through a corner. Your line of attack may look the same, but these AMG machines let you know very quickly if they are lightweight or heavyweight contenders. What an awesome experience!

Taking its cue from the G Class; – which was developed from the Unimog that has been an icon ever since its introduction – the Mercedes-Benz GL has developed into a great SUV. But, even with all of its technical wizardry, style and excellence, there will be those who will say it will never be better than the G Class or even the Range Rover or the Land Cruiser.

Having had the opportunity to test all three derivatives of the Roadster, being the SL 500, the SL 63 AMG and the SL 65 AMG, has certainly been a privilege and a most thrilling experience. All three Mercedes-Benz SL models are the same, yet they differ so much from one another that they each deserve to be dealt with separately in order to do justice to them. Quality and quality finishes are a true example of the excellence of the SL’s overall grandeur, with every component and the overall product being nothing short of spectacular. Innovation is at the forefront, but history and tradition are clearly seen and are imbedded in the new SL.

In its ‘meeker and milder’ format, the A Class Mercedes has already walked away with numerous awards for its ingenuity, form and performance. Now, with the 45 AMG badge, it is truly ‘throwing the cat among the pigeons’ in the ‘pocket-rocket’ sector of the industry. The A45 AMG is not one thing at a time, but a total package that includes words like ‘performance’, ‘racer’, ‘sporty’, ‘dynamic’, and, yes, revolutionary!

Reports from Europe after the launch of the Mercedes-Benz A Class called it a ‘revolution’, ‘outstanding’ and a ‘fresh breath’ for Mercedes-Benz. The A Class is not only one of the most beautiful premium compact cars around, but it is also a totally different car from its predecessor.

At the launch of the Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake at the Circa Gallery, we discovered that the Gallery has a most interesting collection of art, and should you have the privilege to eat there, you will find a gastronomic experience second to none. About that, more a little later.

And back to the Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake. The name was derived from breaking in wild horses in years long gone. Breaking them in then moved to the next level by hitching them to a cart; and then the cart was modified to carry people; and then it was used for hunting - and thus the name 'Shooting Brake'

In 1979, Mercedes-Benx paved the way in extreme off-road personnel carriers with the launch of the original G-Class (460). In the following 33 years since inception, the G-Class has won best off-road vehicle for 22 of those years, and has become the vehicle of choice for most peacekeeping organisations that often operate in some of the most inhospitable conditions known to man.

I was never sure what the ‘SL’ stood for, but now I know it is not for ‘Superior & Lighting the Way’ or ‘Serious Luxury’ or anything else for that matter. I am not sure it is nearly as light as the first SL 300 that was built 60 years ago, but it is without any doubt a most impressive and super sports car.