Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The new Mercedes Benz S Class has been awarded the "Golden Steering Wheel". With runners-up places for both the B-Class and the M Class, Mercedes-Benz proved the most successful brand in this long-established competition, staged by the German newspaper "Bild am Sonntag". Dr Dieter Zetsche, Member of the DaimlerChrysler Board of Management and responsible for the Mercedes Car Group, was awarded the "Honorary Steering Wheel".

The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class proved a runaway winner at the awards ceremony, staged by "Bild am Sonntag", Germany's highest-circulation Sunday newspaper, in Berlin this week. The jury, made up of celebrities such as the television presenter Barbara Schöneberger and racing drivers such as Hans Herrmann and Walter Röhrl, unhesitatingly awarded it the highest number of points in the "luxury class" category, ensuring that the new S-Class achieved the best result of any car in the 2005 awards.

The new top-of-the-line model from the Stuttgart-based car manufacturer, which celebrated its European market launch at the end of September, supersedes its successful predecessor, the world's bestselling luxury saloon, with a sales total of around 500,000 models. Arriving in Australia next February, the new S-Class features a wealth of technical innovations as standard – from Brake Assist PLUS with its radar sensors to the infrared technology-based night view assist, from the upgraded COMAND system to the preventive PRE SAFE® occupant protection with additional functions, from Active Body Control to the dynamic multicontour seat with extended massage function – all of which make the Mercedes flagship a benchmark for car development as a whole.

Mercedes-Benz most successful brand at "Golden Steering Wheel" awards
In addition to the outstanding victory of the new S-Class, the B-Class and M-Class also made the victory rostrum. The B-Class came second in the readers' "mini-MPV" category, and the M-Class achieved the same result in the special "Off-roaders" class. The fact that Mercedes-Benz picked up one first and two second prizes at the prestigious award ceremony serves to underline the exceptional position of the brand. The awards were accepted by Dr Thomas Weber, Member of the DaimlerChrysler Board of Management responsible for Research and Technology and for Passenger Car Development within the Mercedes Car Group. With a total of 14 victories to date, Mercedes Benz has proven one of the most successful car brands in the "Bild am Sonntag" competition, which began back in 1976.

"Honorary Steering Wheel" for Mercedes Car Group boss Dr Dieter Zetsche
Dr Dieter Zetsche, Member of the DaimlerChrysler Board of Management and responsible for the Mercedes Car Group, was presented with the "Honorary Steering Wheel". This special annual prize, awarded by the publisher Axel Springer Verlag, was created to honour outstanding personalities within the car industry. The Chairman Elect of the DaimlerChrysler AG Board of Management was commended for his achievements throughout his career and in particular as CEO and President of the Chrysler Group.

Source: Mercedes-Benz Press Releases