Five mind-blowing anniversary models from Europe’s leading marques
Marque automotive brands celebrate anniversaries via special editions to keep models fresh and remind buyers of their history, technology and achievements
Marques often launch new models for a seven-year life cycle. BMW, for example, presented its first (E12) 5-Series in 1972, and the current, seventh generation (G30) was unveiled last year. Unfortunately, makers are under increasing pressure to keep their cars’ images fresh, and they often do so with “facelifts”, add-ons and special editions to highlight the models’ anniversaries or successes.
Mercedes-AMG celebrated its 50th anniversary this spring with three new models in Geneva, while Fiat is promoting its “Dolce Vita”-styled 500-60 diamond anniversary edition. Available in 85- and 105-horsepower 900cc and and 69hp 1.2-litre petrol engines, the 500-60 could replace the Gucci edition as the “shopoholic must-have” in Hong Kong, particularly as it looks more retro with a vinyl dashboard and convincing 1957-like chrome around a 7-inch screen promising Apple Car Play and Android Auto connectivity.
The first 60 units of the 500-60 will be plaqued, but many fashionistas might have to decide how retro they really want to be in traffic. A six-speed manual gearbox might tonne with more fun in about 10 seconds, but the Duologic five-speed is built for Rome’s traffic congestion and saves fashionistas from jangling their bangles in shifts. The 900cc version consumes about 3.5 litres of petrol per 100km and emits 88g/km of CO2.
Mercedes-Benz this month also celebrates 20 years of making M-Class sport utility vehicles in Tuscaloosa, about 100km southwest of Bimingham, Alabama. Tuscaloosa seems far away, but it is arguably as well known as Modena, as this is where Mercedes-Benz makes “almost all” of its upmarket SUVs. The Tuscaloosa factory opened on May 21, 1997, with the 3.2-litre V6 ML 320 (W163), which was exported the following March. A 1998 ML 320 was offered online here last month for HK$12,000 (US$1,541), and with a 2002 variant rising to HK$26,000. Their spare parts could cost a fortune, but a sound, low-mileage version could still make you feel posh in Sai Kung, and have plenty of mileage for households with teenagers and dogs. Local used M-Class prices soar beyond HK$150,000 for second-generation W164 versions from 2005, while the third-generation W166 was launched in 2011 and facelifted as a “GLE” in 2015. Mercedes-Benz’s poshest SUVs are the GLS, however, which begin with the “basic” GLS 400 (from HK$1.13 million), and peak with the 333hp V6, 5.7-litre, 585hp Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 (from about HK$2.1 million with extras).
