Pam Anderson Demands Leather-free Mercedes

The Canadian-born blonde bombshell, Pamela Anderson, has written to the German-US firm Daimler-Chrysler to demand that it make good on a promise to produce a hide-free version of its Mercedes G-55 sport utility vehicle, which sells for around $105,000 (85,000 euros).

"Animals used for their skin suffer from confinement, fear, painful mutilations, deprivation of all that is natural and important to them, and cruel treatment during transport and slaughter," Anderson wrote, in a letter released by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). "I want no part of that, but I would like a Mercedes."

PETA said that Mercedes-Benz had informed the group that all future car models will be available with an entirely leather-free option in all markets either directly at the dealership or via special order. But Anderson claims that when she recently inquired about buying a Mercedes G55, she was told that it is not yet available without the incriminating skin.

Ironically, the gas-guzzling and powerful Mercedes G-55 that vegetarian Anderson wants was named by a French ecological group as the "world's most polluting vehicle" in 2004, while several US surveys said it is one of the least environmentally-friendly vehicles on the US market.