European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 9, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday july 9, 1987 the stars and stripes Page 13 Mercedes coupes fill out mid series the new Mercedes coupes which made iter debuts this Spring at the Geneva Auto Salon have armed on tic european Market will the new Ijoyce and 300t e coupes Daimler Ben has added a sports version to the Sedan and station Wagon models of inc successful 124 mid series. The coupes now round off this series the firm says. The engines and running gear Are basically the same As those used in these dans while the Bodywork and Dimen Sions have been altered. The Daimler Den styling department has created this is treacly attractive Coupe from the 124 mid series sedans and stylistically the Coupe belongs to this series the firm says. Because of inc Coupe character inc wheelbase and Over All length were reduced 3.3 inches the Coupe having a wheelbase of 106.8 inches and a length of 1h3.2 inches. In terms of engineering Daimlcr-bcn7 says there Are no major differences bal Wen the Coupe and inc Sedan. In the engine department the 230ce Coupe is powered by a four Cylinder 2.3 liter unit Hal produces 136 horsepower 137 with catalytic converter and the 300ce is powered by a six Cylinder 3 Lilor engine of 188 he i so with convert or. Both models have five Speed manual transmissions As Standard. An automatic four Speed transmission with torque con Verter and electronically controlled Mode selection is available As an option. The automatic provides almost a Quad performance to the five Speed manual Daimler Benz says for instance the 300ce with the non catalytic converter engine accelerates from Molo 101 Kph 62 Mph in 7.9 seconds while the automatic transmission figure is k.2 seconds. In external appearance Trie Only differences Between the 230ce Coupe and us 300ce counterpart Are the Model designations on the trunk lid. And inc 300ce s double tailpipe exhaust. The Interior appointments of the coupes and the 124-scrics sedans differ considerably with the Interior of the coupes More like i Host found in the s class Mercedes cars. The firm says thai this is in keeping with the luxury Stan Dards typically required by customers of High style Coupe vehicles. As the 230ce and 3qoce arc designed As four seaters there Are two individual seats in the rear with a folding Center armrest As found in the Large coupes of inc a class. The 230ce and 300 be coupes Are manufactured in the Sindel Fingon Plant near Stuttgart which also manufactures the 124 mid series sedans and part of inc 190 series of Small sedans. The More powerful 300ce Coupe ver Sion will probably be tapped for Sale in the United states and it will arrive on thai Market possibly by the end of this year. In Germany the 230ce Coupe Sells for 50,331 Marks $27,961 including the m percent German value added tax. And the 300ce is priced at 62,586 Marks including tas s34.770. Although these cars arc anything but inexpensive there s already a waiting list and potential buyers at the end of it doubtlessly face a Long Wail. Randy Barnett own lines elegant styling Mark the new Mir cry coup. Interior styling is similar to that of a class ears. Tierra Del Fuego or bust opel team completes first stage of Marathon the opel i a americana team participating in an automotive adventure and car testing session deluxe arrived recently in Tucson ari7., after completing its alaskan Canadian and Western .  but Tucson marked Only the first of four stages on the 18,000-mile Auto motive Marathon. The German Driver teams in two nor Mal production opel Kadi to diesels one a Hatchback and the other a station Wagon started their itinerary in an chorale. If things go according to plan they in reach Tierra Del fungo at the tip of South America by Middle or late a gust. Then the teams will Fly Back to Ger Many with their two Kadets to arrive punctually at the Frankfurt International Auto show at the beginning of septem Ber and there the cars will doubtlessly go on display. With More than 5.100 Miles behind them after the first 14-Day Ilac the a Dell teams left Tucson and Are now on their Way through Mexico with Central and South America As the net stops. The route hikes in some of the rough est country in the world As Well As some extreme weather conditions from ice cold ill Alaska in boiling hot in Ecuador. During the first 5.iuu-Milc stage from Anchorage in tul son. The team encountered Only one mechanical problem and that came on the 11th Day of the run when one of the a adults encountered a fuel starvation problem. This was caused the Wadett Drivers took a break in Chicken Creek Alaska with most of inc town shown Here. By us Purchase of some dirty diesel fuel Ali ii clogged the Fud fillers. The situation Alaska runs on the alaskan Highway and visits to Yellowstone National Park Ivas quickly remedied by the team me in Wyoming and Monument Valley in Cham. And the two is horsepower Kaari Una chs continued on their merry Way. Some Floc highlights of inc Lour so Slop far have included a drive past Llie 20,000-foot-High mount Mckinley in also among the highlights was a Quick i for refreshment in Chicken Creek. Alaska. This Village featured an Airfield three houses and a main Street that boasted a Chicken country store a Chicken liquor Stoie and last but not least by any Means a Chirkun Creek Saloon see photocell have Mori. Information on these adventures As the  make their Way toward Tierra Del Kego the land of fire