Mercedes-Benz M-Class voted Germany’s best looking SUV

Dubai, 15 October 2012 – The Mercedes-Benz M-Class has claimed the AUTO BILD Design Awards 2012 title of the most attractive vehicle in the SUV/Vans/All-wheel drive category, in a poll by leading German car magazine, AUTO BILD with the majority of 100,000 reader votes. The win demonstrated the readers' appreciation of the trend-setter's characteristically striking design, which effortlessly matches power with sophistication. Readers were also delighted at the progressive design of the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class, deeming it Germany's most attractive car.

 

Determined solely by the readers' personal tastes, AUTO BILD crowned a Mercedes-Benz model as Germany's most attractive car for the fourth consecutive time. After awarding the coveted title of "Germany's most attractive car" to the E-Class, the SLS AMG Coupé and the SLK in the preceding years, in 2012 they were won over by the design of the new A-Class. With a new category win for the M-Class, launched in the Middle East in March this year, Mercedes-Benz may thus justifiably claim to make the most attractive German automobiles.

With the new A-Class and its radical, dynamic design idiom, Mercedes-Benz has opened up a totally new chapter in the compact class this year, visualising the beating pulse of a new generation of vehicles in fascinating guise. "The A‑Class is a clear statement on the new dynamism of the Mercedes-Benz brand," says Dr Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes Cars.

The AUTO BILD Design Awards are the latest in a series of accolades for Mercedes-Benz this summer. The jury of the world's most renowned design competition acknowledging Mercedes-Benz for setting sustainable trends in automotive design with maximum aesthetic appeal by awarding the coveted red dot award for two new Mercedes-Benz car models simultaneously. The winners are the C-Class Coupé and the SLS AMG Roadster.

This year, 1800 manufacturers and designers from 58 countries registered submissions for consideration by the discerning judges of the red dot awards, which are regarded as a seal of quality for outstanding design. The high-calibre jury of international and independent experts assessed more than 4500 products.

Only the best made it through this exclusive field of entrants. The competition recognises well-thought-out, innovative products, aesthetic quality and future-oriented design. According to the hard-to-please and highly respected jury, the new the C-Class Coupé and the SLS AMG Roadster satisfy these stringent requirements, all earning the red dot award for high design quality. In addition to the three car models, the Actros truck is also permitted to bear the red dot label.

Commenting on the awards, Frank Bernthaler, Director, Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars, Daimler Middle East and Levant, said, "After more than 125 years, the three pointed star continues to draw the highest praises and admiration from those with a deep appreciation for design and innovation. These highly respected awards from both industry experts and consumers further assert our position as luxury automotive design leader in a highly competitive segment."