A look at the SEAT 600 and the SEAT Ibiza to compare how car safety has changed in 60 years

60 years of evolution

• A look at the SEAT 600 and the SEAT Ibiza to compare how car safety has changed in 60 years
• New brake systems, more elements of passive safety and chassis development are the most significant breakthroughs of recent decades 
• The next step is to get cars to anticipate future events and try to prevent them

A lot can happen in 60 years, and when it comes to safety that’s a long time for cars to evolve. In terms of safety, and several other topics, cars today bear little resemblance to those of yesteryear. To illustrate this we can compare a 1963 SEAT 600 D to the SEAT Ibiza FR with the following results:

- Airbags and headrests. “The SEAT 600 wasn’t equipped with headrests,” recalls Javier Luzón, head of Passive Safety at SEAT. This feature makes a significant contribution to preventing whiplash when the car is involved in a low speed collision from the rear. In addition, whereas some SEAT Ibizas have up to six airbags, the SEAT 600 had none, because that technology did not become widespread until the 90s.

- Seat belt. It was developed in the 60s. But in the beginning it was “an inextensible strap that users had to adjust to their body,” explains Luzón. The difference today is that this element of passive safety adapts itself to the user’s body and not the other way round. This provides more safety in the event of a collision, as the current seat belt system fits snugly on the body and retains the passenger instantly.

- Brakes. The brake system on both models is also completely different. The SEAT 600 was equipped with drum brakes “with much lower braking power than what can be achieved today,” says Luzón. By contrast, current cars “have large diameter disc brakes,” tyres are also much wider, “giving them more contact surface with the road for safer traction,” and the cars feature ABS, a system that prevents cars from skidding out of control when braking.

- Chassis. A car’s chassis is another fundamental component when it comes to safety, and its evolution over the past several decades can clearly be seen. One major difference is the greater width of the structures, such as the doors, which nowadays “have added safety features that give better protection than before in the event of a collision.”

All in all, today’s cars offer the highest level of passenger safety. “The next step we will soon see involves cars with the ability to anticipate future events and react accordingly,” concludes Javier Luzón. This will be the beginning of a new era with technology that was unheard of at the time of the legendary 600.

Happy 50th birthday to the best-known & most beautiful Pullman saloon ever, the Mercedes-Benz 600.

The 50th birthday of the best-known Pullman saloon of them all, the Mercedes-Benz 600, is set to coincide with a special debut at the Geneva Motor Show: the launch of the new Pullman. Mercedes-Maybach's second model will assume the top-of-the-range position, with vis-à-vis seating in the passenger compartment and high-end automotive luxury that is traditionally associated with Maybach.

Its length of 6.5 metres alone is a sign of the special status of the Mercedes-Maybach Pullman. It provides space for a generously-sized and tastefully-appointed club lounge in the rear, which has a multitude of creature comforts fitted as standard. This chauffeur-driven limousine is more than equal to today's demands for the ultimate in exclusivity and luxury. The VIP occupants sit on two standard-specification executive seats facing the direction of travel. 

They can enjoy the greatest legroom in the segment; and can get into and out of the car with the greatest of ease and comfort. As is typical for a Pullman, the four passengers can sit facing each other in the compartment with an electrically-operated partition window. The prices for unarmoured models start at around half a million euros; the first customers will be taking delivery of their vehicles, which of course offer unrivalled scope for individualisation, at the beginning of 2016.

With its new model, the company is now extending its unique position in this demanding segment: "Quite apart from providing stately and stylish seating for high-ranking passengers in the comfort and spaciousness for which it is famed, the new Mercedes-Maybach Pullman is of course the embodiment of exclusivity at its highest level," commented Ola Källenius, Member of the Daimler AG Management Board responsible for sales and marketing of Mercedes-Benz Cars. "One can sense the significance and greatness of it in every detail."

The Mercedes-Maybach Pullman provides extremely spacious seating combined with unique features characterised by their extraordinary and perfect craftsmanship. It goes without saying that Mercedes-Maybach offers its customers unique opportunities to individualise the appointments of their top-class limousines. The exquisite Maybach paint finishes, which are applied in several layers, count as part of this specification.

With a length of 6499 mm, the Pullman is another 1053 mm longer than the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class. The wheelbase is an impressive 4418 mm. Furthermore, at 1598 mm in height, the Pullman is more than 100 mm higher than a Mercedes S-Class, resulting in a tangible increase in headroom. 

The absolute top-of-the-range model is the Mercedes-Maybach Pullman S 600. Its V12 biturbo engine has an output of 530 hp. With displacement of 5980 cc, the maximum torque of 830 Nm is available from 1900 rpm.

The name Pullman was originally applied to railway carriages with luxurious open-plan compartments manufactured by the American Pullman Palace Car Company. This name was soon also applied to the motor cars from Mercedes-Benz which were based on an extremely long wheelbase and offered a very generously-sized passenger compartment. In the rear, separated from the driver's area by a partition, there was space for four passengers to recline regally in four single seats facing each other.

Extremely spacious seating in the rear, entire vehicle interior is leather-clad

As its name suggests, the four seats in the rear of the Mercedes-Maybach Pullman are arranged vis-à-vis. The owner and VIP guests are seated in the direction of travel on two executive seats which are part of the standard specification; other passengers can sit on the fold-down seats facing backwards. If specifically requested, the Pullman can also be delivered in an exclusive version without the additional seats.

The executive seats offer a unique level of comfort thanks to their special adjustment kinematics. In contrast to the norm, the backrest is adjusted separately while the footwell and seat reference point remain unchanged. The cushion can be adjusted separately, with inclination and horizontal adjustment combined. For the executive seats, the maximum backrest angle is 43.5 degrees. 

The most upright backrest position of 19 degrees allows relaxed working in the rear. The reclining seats feature a calf support, which is freely adjustable for length and angle. The luxury head restraints come with an extra cushion as standard. The two first-class travellers in the rear have the greatest amount of legroom of any car in the segment, as well as 60 mm more headroom than in a Mercedes-Maybach S-Class.

There is one design difference compared with the existing Pullman model: in the new model, all seats are easy to get to. This improvement was achieved thanks to the large rear doors and the position of the passengers on the executive seats, which is even further to the rear.

The interior of the Mercedes-Maybach Pullman is upholstered in leather throughout as standard. Not only is the roof liner upholstered in high-quality leather, but also the door frames and seat consoles. As one would expect of a Maybach, there are three analogue instruments in the roof liner informing passengers in the rear of the outside temperature, speed and time.

The partition wall between the rear and the driver's area ensures discretion. The glass partition wall can be lowered electrically. It can also change from transparent to opaque at the touch of a button. This allows – in combination with the equally standard-specification curtains for the rear windows – for different levels of privacy. The standard-fit 16:9 format 18.5-inch (47 cm) monitor located in front of the partition can also be extended electrically.

The Burmester^® high-end 3D surround sound system has been further optimised. Hand-selected loudspeakers, improved membranes and tuning exclusively to the preferred listening of each individual customer guarantees the ultimate in hi-fi listening pleasure. The appearance of the high-end audio system has also been further improved.

The history: Pullman limousines from Mercedes-Benz

Happy Birthday: the best-known Mercedes Pullman, the Mercedes 600, is celebrating its 50th birthday in 2015. Mercedes-Benz first started offering the prestigious-looking variant in this model series as a "series-production vehicle" in 1965. Having said that, the tradition of offering exclusive limousines with the Pullman name goes back even further at Mercedes-Benz:

Three special-design examples of the model 300 in Pullman dimensions, referred to in the vernacular as the "Adenauer Mercedes", were made in 1960. And following on from the W 100 model series, in subsequent years there were Pullman versions of the S-Class 109 and 126 model series (special production) as well as the 140 and 220 (both standard production).

Want a new Suzuki Bike, then teh time is now.

Suzuki has announced an extension to the popular Me Me Me campaign, which offers the chance to cherry pick the best deal that suits your needs, from a deposit contribution to free accessories or help towards the cost of your insurance.

Launched in January, the offer gives an increased level of flexibility when it comes to buying a new Suzuki. Customers are able to choose from a £500 deposit contribution, £600 worth of free accessories, or £700 towards the cost of their insurance premium when insured through Suzuki Insurance Services.

Suzuki GB National Sales Manager Jonathan Martin announced the extension, saying, "This offer puts the focus on the customer and their needs when it comes to buying a new motorcycle, and as such we're delighted to be able to announce its extension. It offers customers real choice and makes buying a new Suzuki even more affordable. The deposit contribution ideally compliments the low-rate finance available, meaning low monthly payments are available across the range. Customers can also choose to personalise their machine to suit their needs with Genuine Suzuki accessories, or benefit from that added piece of mind with Suzuki Insurance Services." 

10 models from Suzuki's extensive on-road range are included in the promotion, including the GSX-R1000, 750 and 600, Hayabusa, GSR750/A, V-Strom 650 ABS, GSX1250FA, both the Burgman 400 and 650 Executive, and the Intruder C1500T cruiser.

Happy Birthday SEAT, 60 years and counting

• Today marks 60 years since the first SEAT car, a 1400, was produced
• SEAT 1400 saloon became an instant hit, with 10,000 orders after its debut
• 98,000 1400 models were produced over a decade
• SEAT has gone on to produce 16,000,000 vehicles and counting

Yesterday was a very special day for SEAT: exactly 60 years ago to the day, the company’s first car rolled off the production line at its Zona Franca factory in Barcelona. That car was the SEAT 1400, an elegant and luxurious saloon designed in the spirit of the most popular American sedans of the '50s.

SEAT had been established only three years earlier, and had developed the 1400 with a focus on the transport needs of government officials. Initially available as a saloon, SEAT would also create estate, seven-seat and commercial versions of the 1400; Spanish cabbies loved the 1400, and it remained a popular taxi well into the following decade.

With a price tag of 121,875 pesetas (€41,735 or £35,200 today), SEAT initially produced five cars per day, built by a workforce of 925 employees. The rear-wheel drive 1400 was powered by a front-mounted, water cooled 44 PS engine and came equipped with a four-speed manual gearbox.

It wasn’t until June of 1954 that SEAT gave the model its official debut, at the Barcelona Trade Fair. And with petrol rationing in Spain having come to an end in 1953, the company received a staggering 10,000 orders. That allowed SEAT to both increase production and drop the price, reducing it to 117,000 pesetas.

By the end of 1954, SEAT had delivered 945 1400 models, but by the end of the following year, annual production was closer to 3,000, with almost all of the 1400’s components manufactured in Spain. One year later and production had more than doubled, to 7,000 units, and by the end of the following year SEAT was producing 10,000 1400 models annually, with 42 leaving the factory every working day. By that stage the workforce had increased to 5,000.  

Production of the 1400 ended in 1964, with 98,000 cars having been produced in Zona Franca and Spain going from strength-to-strength economically. SEAT was at the forefront of that growth, and remains a key player in the Spanish economy today, designing, developing and manufacturing its cars in the ultra-modern Martorell facility on the outskirts of Barcelona; since 2010, SEAT has invested €35m in the ‘SEAT al Sol’ project, which has reduced factory CO2 emissions by 7,000 tonnes per year using solar panel technology.

Since the launch of the 1400, SEAT has built more than 16,000,000 vehicles, including icons like the 600, the 127, the Ibiza and the Leon. Today the company exports over 80% of its production, and has over 1,800 points of sale worldwide.

2013: a year of significant anniversaries

The SEAT 1400 was replaced by the 1500, which began production 50 years ago in 1963. Ten years later in 1973, its successor, the SEAT 132, came to market. A truly luxurious car, the 132 was the first SEAT to feature an automatic transmission, and later in its lifecycle it became the first available with air conditioning.

Forward another ten years to 1983 and the SEAT Ronda came to market, and ten years after that, SEAT introduced the second-generation Ibiza - the first car ever produced in SEAT's Martorell factory and a model that, now in its fourth generation, remains SEAT’s most popular car.